[asia-apec 1137] Water shortage in Sindh & its effects on economy & environment

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Water shortage in Sindh & its effects on economy & environment

As the world prepares for the new millennium, most governments are
trying to reduce the level of poverty and achieve food security. At this
very moment people of Sindh are trying to get basic human rights. A
right for fresh drinking water. According to World Health Organisation,
the concentration of major mineral elements in fresh water stays between
150-500 PPM, and every government is responsible to provide safe-fresh
water to their citizens. However, in Pakistan, Water &Power Development
Authority (WAPDA) has reduced the water share of Sindh Province and
people are getting water for drinking, having 1500- 4000-PPM mineral
concentration. This is all happening at the summer time, when maximum
temperature ranges between 40 to 48 Celsius. People of Sindh are not
asking for jobs, higher wages or better working environment. They are
trying to meet very basic human needs.

In Sindh River Indus water is used for four purposes:

1- Water for drinking.
2- Water for Agricultural and industrial use.
3- Water for fishing and boating.
4- Water for sustaining ecological balance.

After the construction of Mangla and Tarbella dams the distribution and
shortage of water depends on WAPDA's will that how much water be
released from the dams. This year, irrigation experts have forecasted a
severe shortage of water in Sindh due to following three reasons:
1. Decline in water reserves of Tarbella dam.
2. Extra water is conserved in Mangla Dam ( Mangla dam's water is only
allocated for Punjab Province)
3. Lack of rainfall in early spring in northern-areas of Pakistan.

This year in April, Sindh has received 20 percent less water at Sukhur
Barrage and 50 percent less water at Kotri Barrage. These water
shortages are going to become more serious in the month of May and June.
Because Sindh has water right only on Tarbella dam, where there is no
more water available for drinking or irrigation purposes. This situation
is direct result of releasing 30 percent additional water in TP, CJ and
Tunsa Link Canals of Punjab.

These water shortages are going to cause RS 250 million (RS 46= 1US$)
losses in agriculture sector of Sindh. Because in Sindh, this is a time
for sowing of Cotton crop, and instead of 1.5 million acres only 0.9
acres will be cultivated. Similarly rice plantation is due now and delay
of each day will destroy the young germinated plants. Although sugar
cane was sown a month ago, now it should be watered, otherwise its
growth will be affected.

In Sindh, about 10 million heads of livestock are present at both banks
of river Indus. These animals are going to face severe disease problem
of liver fluke and round worms. Therefore 20 to 30 percent production
losses will occur in adult animals and 5 to 10 percent additional
mortality in young animals.

At present there is absolutely no water in river Indus between Kotri
barrage and Sujawal. Therefore fishermen communities have lost their
jobs. A week ago we interviewed 100 people from fishermen community only
two people had the alternate jobs and 98 people were jobless.

Although economical losses are important; the shortage of water is going
to cause major outbreaks of water born diseases in rural and urban areas
of Sindh, because people are forced to drink contaminated water from
ponds in rural areas and same water will be supplied to urban areas. Now
days local newspapers are full of stories about outbreaks of
gasrto-enteritis and hepatitis "A", and according to Daily Kawish
(6.5.99) in one-day 11 children have died in Hyderabad City and 4
Children in Daro district of Thatta.

Economical and other pressures are so high on the people of Sindh that
they have stopped thinking about their surrounding environment.
Otherwise it not only pity that river Indus look like a road in the Thar
Desert, but this situation also has great impact on the down stream
environment of Sindh.

Many people think that WAPDA authorities are trying to punish peoples of
Sindh, due to their opposition on construction of Kalabagh Dam. WAPDA is
not following 1991 Water Accord between the provinces of Pakistan. They
deliberately released water from Tarbella dam to those Canals of Punjab,
which are only entitled for water when it is in excess.

Dr Aslam Pervez


Pakistan Network of Rivers, Dams & People Sindh (PNRDP) has taken strong 
notice of the  conditions of famine which are being created in Sindh through 
  artificial shortage of water, under the grab of so-called Water Accord and 
Punjab's dictatorial and totalitarian attitude  for  turning Sindh into Arid 
and Desert. This year in April, Sindh has received 20 percent less water at 
Sukhur
Barrage and 50 percent less water at Kotri Barrage. These water
shortages are going to become more serious in the month of May and June.
Because Sindh has water right only on Tarbella dam, where there is no
more water available for drinking or irrigation purposes. This situation
is direct result of releasing 30 percent additional water in TP, CJ and
Tunsa Link Canals of Punjab.

These water shortages are going to cause RS 250 million (RS 46= 1US$)
losses in agriculture sector of Sindh. Because in Sindh, this is a time
for sowing of Cotton crop, and instead of 1.5 million acres only 0.9
acres will be cultivated. Similarly rice plantation is due now and delay
of each day will destroy the young germinated plants. Although sugar
cane was sown a month ago, now it should be watered, otherwise its
growth will be affected.

PNRDP and the people of Sindh demand that an end be put to misuse and 
excessive use of Tarbella and Indus's water by Punjab irrigation department 
and  the so-called Water Accord be cancelled and the right to use water of 
Indus River, be entrusted to Sindhis and  Sindh be given water share 
according to the 1945 Water Accord. PNRDP believes that this artificial 
shortage is created to justify the construction of Kalabagh Dam.



Ayaz Latif Palijo
Sindh Research Council-SRC
PNRDP

For Further Information about Environment, Development, Media, Gender and 
Human Rights in
Sindh, Pakistan and South Asia visit:
Sindh Research Page:  http://www.angelfire.com/az/Sindh/index.html
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