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Water shortage in Sindh

Sindh is under going a serious water shortage and
situation is growing worse every day. Presently Sindh
is receiving about 80% short of its due share.

The government attributes the present crisis to
natural drought, prevalent in many parts of world.
Water shortage is a fact because of poor rainfall in
the catchments but it is not true that the crisis is
100% natural. In case of Sindh it has been worsened by
artificial causes.

IRSA is dominated by one province. It is surprising
that IRSA was established under the accord of 1991 and
the same body is not ready to distribute water under
accord of 1991. Punjab is insisting the distribution
under historical distribution arrangements under which
Sindh is receiving 18% less water than its share under
the accord of 1991. Representatives of Sindh are not
being heard in IRSA. It is important to note that
three
provinces have been demanding the distribution under
accord of 1991 but only Punjab is not ready and IRSA
as an organization is following the wishes of
only one province.

Because of the current shortages it is apprehended
that crop yields would be about 50% less than normal.
It will cause rise in poverty levels particularly in
rural Sindh, where majority population is dependent on
Agriculture. During last year only 0.78 MAF water has
been released below Kotri downstream against agreed 10
MAF under accord of 1991. This situation has played
havoc in the delta area and according to reports
altogethere over 6 lac acres of land is inundated in
delta areas of Sindh. Talukas of Keti Bunder, Shah
Bunder, Jati, Ghorabari are the worst hit, where
people have lost their villages to sea and have
migrated from their abodes. Situation in Manchar Lake
is even worse, which has not received fresh water
since years and completely devastated now. Local
sources have reported number of deaths due to drinking
contaminated effluent of RBOD. The lake desperately
needs fresh water through Indus. The government is
providing 1000 cusecs of water to Karachi through
Kotri Barrage on regular basis but people living in
delta of Sindh and Manchar are not facilitated through
any similar arrangement.

If some urgent measures are not taken probably the
province would meet with a complete  disaster. The
government of Sindh should mount pressures on IRSA
to give Sindh its due share.



--
Jamil A. Shaikh
World Sindhi Congress (Canada Chapter)
Ph.No:   (613)-591-0451 H
email:   jamilsh@ottawa.com