KARACHI, Dec 7: A state of discontent is gaining ground among the people of Sindh in the wake of the transfer of several Dehs of upper Sindh to the Punjab and the opening of the Thal Canal during the dry season.

The Sindh Consultative Council and the Sindh Active Research Council, which met on Thursday with Dr Hamida Khuhro, chairperson of the Sindh National Alliance, in the chair, urged the President and the federal and provincial governments to pay immediate attention to the problem before the situation took a more serious turn.

This demand was made by different resolutions adopted at the meeting.

In one of the resolutions rejecting the move by the federal and provincial governments, the meeting observed that the proposal for the transfer of several dehs of upper Sindh talukas of Daharki and Ubauro to the Punjab had caused deep resentment.

In the resolution it was pointed out that the last time such an action was taken by the British colonial government which transferred Sabzalkote to Bahawalpur (now part of Punjab) to reward the ruler of Bahawalpur for his loyalty to the British and to punish Sindh for fighting against them.

The resolution said the population of these Dehs was overwhelmingly Sindhi and any such action would cause deep resentment and alienation among the people of sindh.

Another resolution said the announcement of the opening of the Thal Canal in the Punjab was a blatant betrayal of faith with Sindh.

It said the Chashma Jehlum Link Canal which would feed this canal was built with the express understanding that it would only flow during the flood season, but It was now flowing most of the year drawing off water from Indus which belonged rightfully to the lower riparian.

It further said the Thal Canal was being opened during a dry season and thus was a breach of trust by WAPDA authorities as well as the government of the Punjab.

In a resolution on unemployment the meeting drew attention to the fact that Sindh was hit hardest by joblessness through downsizing.

It said the cuts in development projects affected Sindh the most as it was a poorly developed region and needed urgent infrastructural work.