[asia-apec 1080] 4 National Drainage Programme of Pakistan

[Dr. Aslam Pervez Umrani]

                           National Drainage Programme (NDP)of Pakistan :
Hopes and Fears of Small Provinces of Pakistan

By: Dr Aslam Pervez Umrani
Convenor
PNRDP Sindh
******************************************************
     Recently Sungi Development Foundation of Pakistan organised a
consultative workshop on NDP. The purpose of workshop was to evaluate
environmental, institutional and social impacts of NDP. We are forwarding
this message to International Community for help and suggestions:

     In the meeting NDP authorities mentioned that, extensive development of
irrigation infrastructure in the Indus Plain during 19th and 20th centuries
(particularly after Mangla and Tarbella dams) have brought large tracts of
land under year round cultivation. However, these developments had their
negative impacts on the land, in the form of waterlogging and salinity.
Thus, NDP is going to be implemented in different phases over time period of
25-years and major chunk of funds will come from World Bank. The length of
first phase is six and half years and it has started from January 1998.
       During first phase 785 million US Dollars are allocated for following
works:
1. Remodelling/Extension of existing               10000 km
    Surface and New Drainage
2. Rehabilitation/ Replacement of                      1150 No.
     Tubewells
3. Installation of Pipe Drains                              2500000 Acres
    in new areas
4. Construction of Interceptor Drains                   400 km

5. Biological Drainage                                           40,000
Acres

6.  Rest of work includes Water Courses, Farm Organisation and Training

During the workshop, when participants of Sindh Province put forward
following questions to NDP authorities:

1. How Punjab's (Largest Province of Pakistan) saline drainage water will be
disposed off?

2. Whether any funds for improvement of Left Banks Outfall Drainage of Sindh
(LBOD) and Tidal-Link are allocated or not?

3. What will be the fate of Right Banks Outfall Drainage of Sindh (RBOD)?

      The NDP representative's point of view was not different than Water
and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) that all the drainage effluent of
Punjab and Balochistan will be going into the sea, either through RBOD or
LBOD. However, there are no funds available with NDP for the development of
Tidal Link and safe disposal of RBOD effluent.

      Tidal Link is the end part of LBOD, which creates link between
drainage effluent and seawater. At present, 0.75 million Feet saline water
is disposed off into the sea. This effluent water is only coming from four
districts of Sindh. Even that water is causing a salinity problem in
district Badin and erosion of Tidal Link. While NDP authority wants to pour
Punjab's drainage water into LBOD, without expanding the capacity of Tidal
Link. If that happens then whole Badin district's lands would convert into
saline lands.

      The problem of RBOD is much more severe than LBOD, because this will
be the first time when urban population of Kotri, Latifabad, Hyderabad and
Karachi forced to drink polluted poisonous water. Currently people of Sehwan
are getting drinking water from Manchar Lake, which has become outfall of
RBOD and has 4000-PPM salt concentration. So far six people have died due to
water born disease in Sehwan City; probably many more will die due to kidney
and liver failure in future.

      At present NDP authorities are planning to connect drainage canals of
Balochistan and Punjab with RBOD, whereas Sindh Government is trying to
construct "Indus Link" between Manchar Lake and River Indus. In theory this
approach will enable them to dispose off effluent water into the sea.

     However, some estimates indicate that RBOD drainage water contains 2000
to 4000 PPM salts concentrations. This drainage water may not be much
harmful during flood seasons, but at winter time only effluent water will be
passing from Kotri barrage, and same will be available for drinking purposes
for Hyderabad, Kotri and Karachi citizens. All the urban population, who
cannot afford to purchase mineral water bottles, will be facing health
problems. This effluent water of RBOD will also be destroying the fertile
lands of Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin districts of Sindh. It will also be
destroying the mangro forest and fish stocks of down stream areas of River
Indus.

     During the discussion with NDP person, we found that IIMI and IUCN
(NGOs) were supporting the NDP authority, because IUCN has been awarded an
Environmental Audit of NDP and IIMI has received funds for 17 NDP projects
in Punjab. We should also remember that IUCN signed on controversial
Chotiari Project, perhaps they will repeat this mistake again. In the past,
WAPDA and other Federal Institutes and Authorities have been trying to how
to snatch all the sweet water resources from Sindh and how to dispose off
their effluent water in the Sindh. No matter how many problems these
decisions can create for the people of Sindh. And these authorities always
find some NGOs to support their projects.

     I think this is the time for all the people of Sindh to unite and raise
the issues at all levels. In this regard media is going to play major role
to bring this whole issue to masses for discussion and action. We should
also look for help and suggestions from International Community, who may
have experience of these situations.

Dr Aslam Pervez Umrani
 (PhD in Sustainable Agriculture),
Editor: Sustainable Livestock and Agriculture Production (SLAP),
Address: House No. 60, Al-Abbas Housing Society,
New Wehdat Colony, Hyderabad, Pakistan.
Email: agr726 at hyd.zoooom.net.pk
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/3770/