HYDERABAD, Nov 8 Prominent environmentalists and agriculturists have stressed the need for a baseline study to determine level of impact recent flood has left on deltaic region. Such a study can cover several sectors like deltaic ecology, fisheries, wildlife and forests if it is properly conducted by the government in collaboration with international bodies working on ecology.

The study has become all the more important for all major stakeholders because a huge quantum of water has flowed downstream Kotri during floods but experts believe such one-time injection of water will give only a temporary relief to deltaic region and its population.

Sindh has been demanding for years adequate and constant flow of water downstream to keep the delta alive, which used to be rich in resources of livestock, fish, honey, orchards, natural pastures, rice and vegetables.

It started withering after the river water was diverted upstream through construction of mega dams. Non-release of water for years had wreaked havoc in the delta and the experts describe it as man-made disaster.

WWF's Nasir Panhwar said that the study was highly important to know positive impact of the flood on the area because it involved fisheries, forest and wildlife and soil.

The departments directly related to these sectors must come forward or approach world agencies to launch such study. “We should not talk about assumptions alone,” he said.

Environmentalist Naseer Memon said the study was essential to assess impacts of floods on the delta. “We need to know whether groundwater's quality and quantity has improved and mangroves' status will change next year, level of soil contamination and for how long migratory birds will stay this year if the situation has improved,” he said.

Sindh government argues that 10MAF water needs to be released downstream Kotri every year and the Water Apportionment Accord 1991 calls for further studies “to establish minimal escapages needs downstream”.

A study conducted by the Musharraf government in August 2005 had recommended release of 5,000 cusecs daily and 25MAF over a period of five years downstream.

But according to water expert Idrees Rajput the study's recommendations falls far short of meeting Sindh's demand. He supports calls for an impact assessment under present situation to assess what change the delta has undergone in the wake of floods.

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum's chief Mohammad Ali Shah believed 20,000 fishermen had so far been displaced only from two creeks in the coastal region. “We ourselves plan to do a study on post-flood impacts on delta,” he claimed.

The Indus, said to be the world's 10th largest river in terms of runoff, used to discharge four billion tons of sediments into the Arabian Sea annually and its delta covered an area of about 16,000 square miles.

But the area has undergone a metamorphosis over the years. The sea has destroyed 2.2 million acres in Badin and Thatta district and people in many coastal areas have to buy drinking water because groundwater has become brackish due to sea intrusion, according to Sindh Abadgar Board's president Abdul Majeed Nizamani.

A WWF study claims that mangroves cover only 75,000 hectares in the deltaic region, down from over 263,000 hectares in recent past. Floods have rejuvenated mangroves in the short term and improved fish catch because their roots serve as natural breeding area for over 50 species of fish.

The forests also serve as natural shields against cyclones for they consume 70 to 90 per cent wave energy and prevent sea erosion. But, experts said, there exist only patches of mangroves.