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Govt moves to mitigate Sindh water crisis

By Shamim-ur-Rahman 

The meeting, held at Bilawal House in Karachi, was informed that because of a dip in the Indus River, Sindh was expected to face massive water shortages. - APP photo
KARACHI: In order to overcome an expected water shortage in Sindh, a meeting chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari decided on Wednesday to reduce flows in Taunsa-Panjnad, and if needed, close it.
Analysts believe that the decision could have a far-reaching impact on the water-sharing issues between the provinces.According to officials, the meeting held at the Bilawal House decided to stop further storage of water in Tarbela to meet requirements downstream.
The Sindh Minister for Irrigation and Power, Syed Murad Ali Shah, had raised the issue of expected shortages at a meeting with President Zardari on Saturday, prompting the president to call the Wednesday meeting.The meeting was informed that because of a dip in the Indus, Sindh was expected to face massive shortages.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Sardar Assef Ali, federal minister for fisheries, the president’s Secretary General Salman Farooqui and the special assistant to the prime minister on water resources.President Zardari stressed the need for utilising drip and sprinkle irrigation techniques and for using high potency seeds.
He said the government’s land grant policy should focus on womenfolk because the objective of the scheme was to empower women through sustainable development.The president asked the authorities concerned to initiate a study on Manchhar lake and find ways to rid it of polluted water.
According to officials, the meeting approved the construction of Karachi-Hyderabad motorway (M9) at a cost of Rs8 billion. Work on the project will start in October this year and will be completed by Oct 2011.
A package of Rs24 billion was also approved by the president for road projects in Larkana.The meeting decided to upgrade the Karachi Fish Harbour to meet EU’s standards. Mr Zardari asked the provincial government to accelerate fish production in rural areas.
A welfare plan for improving income opportunities for Sindh’s fishermen was also approved.President Zardari was briefed on projects worth Rs4 billion pertaining to the fisheries sector.