KARACHI, March 22: A seminar on World Water Day on Saturday endorsed a demand by the International Union for Conservation of Nature for releasing 27 acres feet of water for the Indus Delta.

The speakers at the seminar also sought cancellation of licences to the deep-sea trawlers and urged the authorities to release 30 million acre feet water from Kotri Barrage to protect the Indus Delta.

They claimed that there was an uneven distribution of water from Indus and it was also being made on the basis of ill-planning.

The seminar was held under the aegis of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, in collaboration with “The Natural Resources Protection Programme” in connection with the water day at Ibrahim Haideri.

They said that the government’s unnecessary measures had brought miseries to the communities drawing their livelihood from the resources of river and sea.

They said that presently the situation has resulted in a state of total desertification of the land along Indus delta which used to be very fertile years ago.

At the time of the water accord in 1991, the province had some reservations. Now there are a plans to build the Thal Canal, but as per agreement reached, 10 million acre feet water has not been released, nor a survey had been conducted to study the destruction of the delta.

The speakers also demanded payment of compensation to the effectees and provide them an alternative livelihood.

The seminar was addressed by Mohammad Ali Shah, chairperson of PFF, Abu Baker Sheikh, President, NRPP Badin, ex-senator of PPP Taj Haider, and secretary-general of PILER Karamat Ali and others.—PPI