Sindh Growers Urge Halt to Six Canals Project: Call for Water Accord Enforcement and Equitable Distribution
The ongoing debate over the construction of six strategic canals over the Indus River in Punjab has sparked strong objections from Sindh’s agricultural community. Growers in Sindh are urging the government to prioritize the enforcement of the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord, a document meant to ensure equitable distribution of water between the provinces, rather than proceeding with the construction of the controversial canals. Sindh’s farming community, already grappling with severe water shortages, has expressed concerns about the potential exacerbation of water scarcity that could result from the project.
H1: Sindh’s Agricultural Community Raises Alarm Over Six Canals Project
The proposed construction of six strategic canals is seen as a threat to Sindh’s already strained water resources. Sindh growers are calling for the implementation of the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord to ensure a fair distribution of water, which they argue is more crucial than building new canals. The grower’s concern is rooted in the belief that the project could cause irreparable damage to the province’s agricultural sector and water security.
H2: Urgent Demand for the Enforcement of the Water Apportionment Accord
The Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 was designed to allocate water from the Indus River fairly between the provinces, based on the available water flow. However, Sindh’s growers claim that the water flow has been significantly reduced by up to 25-30% annually due to climate change, insufficient rainfall, and other environmental factors. Despite this reduction in the water supply, Punjab continues to claim more water, further marginalizing Sindh, which already faces water shortages between 40-45% every year.
Sindh’s agricultural sector is already in crisis, with underground water being of poor quality and unsuitable for both cultivation and drinking. Unlike Punjab, where the groundwater can be used for agricultural irrigation and drinking, Sindh’s water resources are almost non-existent, leaving farmers without any viable alternatives. The growers fear that the construction of six additional canals will divert even more water from the Indus River, further depriving Sindh of its rightful share.
H3: The Threat of the Six Strategic Canals to Sindh’s Agriculture
Sindh’s farming community is particularly concerned about the impact of the proposed canals on the province’s agriculture, particularly in remote and arid regions such as Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, and Badin. These regions already face severe water shortages, with many areas being entirely deprived of water for irrigation and even drinking. The construction of the six canals, the growers claim, will drain the already scarce water resources, turning a crisis into a catastrophe.
Nabi Bux Sathio, Senior Vice President of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA), stated that the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) should revoke its approval for the project. Sathio emphasized that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the Council of Common Interest (CCI) must step in and ensure that no work on the controversial canals takes place. He believes that these canals will exacerbate the water distribution imbalance, leaving Sindh even more vulnerable to droughts and water scarcity.
H2: The Destruction of Fertile Land and Sustainability Concerns
The project is also being criticized for the poor quality of land that the canals are supposed to irrigate. According to Sathio, the Cholistan desert, where the canals are planned, is not suitable for farming. The region is devoid of essential nutrients required for crop cultivation, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, potash, and zinc. Furthermore, Cholistan’s desert terrain is prone to soil instability, with strong winds blowing sand away and making the land unsustainable for agricultural growth.
Sathio argues that even if attempts were made to fertilize the soil artificially, the land’s fertility would not last, as the region’s harsh environmental conditions would undo any efforts. The proposed canals, in his view, would only add to the mismanagement of water resources, benefiting a few while leaving Sindh’s growers in an even more precarious situation.
H3: Rejection of the Six Canals Project by Sindh’s Farmers
Jawaid Junejo, Chairman of the Farmer Organisations Council Sindh, echoed Sathio’s concerns, warning that the six new canals would pose a significant threat not only to Sindh but also to Balochistan. He described the situation in the tail-end districts, including Tharparkar and Umerkot, where water shortages are already a reality, and further deprivation of water would have dire consequences for agriculture and livelihoods.
Junejo emphasized that the government’s focus should shift toward building small dams in Sindh to store rainwater, which would be a more effective long-term solution to the water scarcity problem. He also called for a halt to the controversial project, arguing that the construction of the six canals would bring disaster to the province by depriving farmers of access to water for irrigation and drinking.
H2: Government’s Response and the Call for Action
The Sindh growers have been vocal about their concerns, urging the government to prioritize the completion of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. This large-scale water storage project, they argue, would significantly enhance the country’s water storage capacity, providing relief to Sindh and other provinces facing water shortages. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam could help store surplus water during the monsoon season, ensuring that it can be used throughout the year, especially during dry periods.
The growers have also called for the urgent implementation of the Water Apportionment Accord in its true spirit. The Accord is meant to ensure fair distribution of water from the Indus River among the provinces, but it has often been ignored, resulting in inequitable water distribution. By enforcing the Accord, the government could help resolve the long-standing water dispute between the provinces and ensure that Sindh receives its fair share of water.
H3: A Call for Collaboration and Fairness in Water Distribution
The issue of water distribution between the provinces has been a longstanding one, with each province accusing the other of unjust water allocation. However, Sindh’s growers argue that the six canals project will worsen the situation rather than improve it. They call for a more collaborative approach, in which the needs of all provinces are taken into account, and water is distributed equitably based on actual requirements and available resources.
Sindh’s agricultural community has made it clear that they do not oppose development or the construction of new canals. However, they argue that the project must be carefully planned and based on solid evidence, with the potential environmental and economic impacts thoroughly studied. The proposed canals, they argue, have been rushed through without adequate consultation with stakeholders, and the risks to Sindh’s water supply and agriculture are too high to ignore.
FAQs
- What is the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991? The Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 is an agreement between the provinces of Pakistan that outlines the allocation of water from the Indus River system. It aims to ensure equitable distribution of water based on available supplies.
- Why are Sindh’s farmers opposed to the construction of six canals? Sindh’s farmers are concerned that the construction of the six canals will divert even more water from the already strained Indus River system, exacerbating water shortages in Sindh and threatening agricultural livelihoods.
- How will the six canals impact Sindh’s agriculture? The construction of the canals could worsen the water crisis in Sindh, depriving farmers in regions such as Tharparkar and Umerkot of water for irrigation. This could lead to crop failures and economic hardship for growers.
- What alternative solutions do Sindh’s farmers propose? Sindh’s farmers have called for the completion of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project to increase water storage capacity, as well as the construction of smaller dams in Sindh to store rainwater and alleviate water shortages.
- What is the role of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA)? The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) is responsible for managing and distributing water from the Indus River system among the provinces. However, its role has been criticized for failing to ensure equitable water distribution.
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