Sindh’s missing water in Punjab

By: MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL, Karachi, Sindh

Sir: Water released in Punjab meant for Sindh is being frequently and daringly stolen for the last many years. As per press reports, a team comprising of Sindh’s engineers recently visited Punjab to find out the clue of missing water of 37 thousand cusecs from River Indus between Chashma and Taunsa barrages (both in Punjab) but obviously, they returned in disappointment due to the non-cooperative attitude of the Punjab government as usual.

This is not the first time that Sindh’s share of water has been stolen in Punjab’s jurisdiction. In the past, such incidents were echoed in the houses of parliament and Sindh Assembly but in vain. Unfortunately, such practices continued without any check for the last many decades. Meanwhile, Sindh’s irrigation minister, Saifullah Dharejo has recently shown his inability in public to stop incidents of stealing water in Punjab. Nonetheless, Sindh government has claimed that it has brought such incidents into the notice of the Punjab government numerous times without any improvement.

On behalf of the people of Sindh, I hereby warn the Punjab government that ever increasing stealing/missing water incidents in Punjab’s jurisdiction, meant for Sindh, are promoting serious trends of disunity among the important two provinces, i.e. Sindh and Punjab, which are harmful for the national interest in the long run.

I also appeal to the chief minister of Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif to take stern action against those who are responsible for stealing the share of Sindh’s water in Punjab’s jurisdiction. Nonetheless, Shahbaz Sharif’s mysterious silence over such incidents during his present as well as past tenures has created serious doubts in the minds of the people of Sindh.

On behalf of the people of Sindh, I appeal to the Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to take suo motu action on the injustice being done against Sindh for years on the water issue that has already resulted in ruination of the Indus Delta in Sindh — the sixth largest in the world and one-third area of Sindh’s land.

Courtesy: Daily Times

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=201285\story_5-8-2012_pg3_6