Tag Archives: Sindh

A proposal for federation

Many recurrences of theft of Sindh’s share of irrigation water happened at various times due to Punjab’s jurisdiction over it.

– MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL, KARACHI

This has been happening since long and against hue and cry by members of Parliament from Sindh who protested several times. Sindh never gets its due share of water in full when it is released by Punjab’s jurisdiction, mainly due to the following three reasons; (1) Seepage (2) Evaporation (3) Installation of hundreds of powerful illegal ‘water-lift machines’ installed on both banks of River Indus between Taunsa and Sindh’s border on a distance of about 80 kilometres. The water of Sindh is being stolen by landlords of Punjab obviously in connivance with officers of the Punjab Irrigation Department and WAPDA. In the past, a few Irrigation Officers from Sindh were deputed to the canals of Punjab to deter theft of the water meant for Sindh but their efforts were foiled or Punjabi Irrigation Officers bribed them.

In return for the ‘favours’ they received in Lahore, they were compelled to send fake figures of water flow to Sindh government from Punjab which were provided to them by the Punjab Irrigation Department. These figures were obviously unauthentic and fake. If the stake-holders of the federation want to resolve this problem on a permanent basis, I suggest the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) should be told to strictly ensure that Sindh’s share of irrigation water is delivered at Guddu in Sindh instead of Taunsa in Punjab. I hope the federal Ministry for Water & Power as well as IRSA would take this decision with consent of the all concerned to resolve the problem once for all.

Courtesy: The Nation, July 21, 2010

AT activists protest against reopening of C-J canal

HYDERABAD, July 21: Activists of the Awami Tehreek staged a sit-in for six hours on the National Highway at Hatri bypass here on Wednesday in protest against reopening of the Chashma-Jhelum link canal, release of water into Greater Thal canal, proposed construction of Bhasha-Diamar dam and tribal. A large number of men, women and children, raised slogans against what they called a theft of Indus water.

Speaking on the occasion, chief of the Awami Tahreek Rasool Bux Palijo said that Sindh was the creator of Pakistan but it was being pushed against the wall. He said Sindh was passing through the worst phase of its history and alleged that the government wanted to destroy the province.

The government was following an international conspiracy against the country, Mr Palijo said and added that rulers had always acted against the interests of the country under the dictates of foreign powers. He expressed solidarity with all the oppressed nations of the world. …

Read more >> DAWN

Bhasha Dam?

By Prof. Dr. Gul Agha

This is an unmitigated disaster for all. Although they are not likely to get credit at this stage, it is a bad decision which will make it easier for later regimes to do this. Mega-dams are unacceptable. The government is taking a harsh, anti-environmantal action. We must make it clear that we will not accept such an outrageous decisions selling out Indus river and Sindh rights. The Tarbela and Mangla to be dismantled so Indus can flow again.

Nov 13, 2008

International Rivers: Bhasha Dam Project

Since Kalabagh Dam issue have been put to sleep [not to rest], here is a new crisis for Sindh, now you have to take on our “friends” in NWFP, besides Punjab.

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Diamer-Bhasha Dam

The new government of Pakistan is considering another big dam project. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam on the Indus River in northern Pakistan comes with an astounding price tag of over US$8.5 billion. The 200-square-kilomete r reservoir would flood 100 kilometers of the Karakoram highway, and the villages and farms of over 35,000 people would disappear. Tens of thousands of thousand-year old rock carvings would vanish. The project, after an eight-year construction period, would provide 4500 MW of electricity for the national grid, but it would not address the far more pressing issue that half of Pakistan’s population (around 80 million people) have no electricity access whatsoever. Diamer-Bhasha is a costly project that would only benefit industries and wealthy Pakistanis.

Continue reading International Rivers: Bhasha Dam Project

Umar Marvi

Umar Marvi (Sindhi: عمر ماروي) is a Sindh love story written in Shah Jo Risalo geographically in Sindh. This is another love story which is a history based in Sindh. It is the Identity of Sindh just like Sassi Punnun, Sohni Mehar.

Marvi (Sindhi: ماروي) was a Sindhi Heroine famous for her chastity, patriotism, and simplicity. Marvi found her ideal in Khet, a cousin who lived in a neighbouring village. He was handsome and brave, and he was deeply in love with Marvi. She lived in a village called Malir in Tharparkar desert. She was a beautiful village girl and was engaged to her cousin (Sindhi: کيت) Khet. One day while she was filling water in her pots from a well (which is now called “Marvi’s Well” (Sindhi: ماروي جو کوھ) Marvi jo khooh) to provide water for her goats, was seen by Prince Umar Soomro (Sindhi: عمر سومرو). At the first glimpse, Umar (Sindhi: عمر)was dazzled by her beauty. Umar proposes to marry her and tries to win her over with jewels and gifts, but Marvi refuses as she was deeply devoted to her cousin. Angered by her refusals, Umar becomes so head-over-heels that he abducts her and imprisons her his palace in Umerkot for a whole year, but she remains faithful and longs for her native terrain. Finally, Umar is deeply touched by her dedication and piety and sets Marvi free.

Courtesy: >> Marvi Search

Awami Tahreek blocks National Highway at Moro against Chashma Canal, Greater Thal Canal, Kalabagh & Bhasha dam

Sindh Jage Paeee.

Awami Tahreek blocks National Highway at Moro against Chashma Canal, Greater Thal Canal, Kalabagh & Bhasha. Ayaz Latif Palijo demands resignation of CM Sindh and All ministers of Sindh. All traffic to Punjab and Peshawar blocked at Moro. Thousands of Sindhiani Tahreek, SHT and SST workers protesting under scorching sun. Many children and women became unconscious. Sallam to Sindhianis and Awami Tahreek. Sindh enters into a new phase of struggle under the umbrella of Awami Tahreek. Tomorrow highways will be blocked at Babarloo and day after tomorrow on 21st all highways shall be blocked at Hyderabad. Live Coverage by Sindh TV, KTN, Awaz, Geo and ARY Tv.

July 19, 2010

What Sindh will lose this time

CCI meets today with heavy agenda

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests (CCI), the top decision-making body of the federation, is meeting today (Sunday) to resolve inter-provincial disputes regarding water-sharing, tax on services and the approval of Bhasha Dam to meet World Bank’s conditions for financing, official sources said on Saturday.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will chair the CCI meeting, which will take up an eight-point agenda.

Being members of the CCI, all four chief ministers and the special representatives from the four provinces – Naveed Qamar (Sindh), Yousaf Raza Gilani (Punjab), Humayun Aziz Kurd (Balochistan) and Arbab Alamgir (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) – will attend the meeting.

Read more >> Daily Times

One Sindh – Two Perspectives

Washington Sindhi Sham with Jami Chandio and Sardar Shah

by Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia, USA

Once again, Sindhis of Washington DC were fortunate to spend a delicious evening with two visitors of Sindh. The gracious host of the evening was  Iqbal Tareen and the two the visitors included a well-known writer and political thinker Jamie Chandio and inspiring poet Sardar Shah. The popularity of the event could be gauged by the fact several people came to meet Jami and Sardar in spite of the fact that Tuesday (July 13) was not only a week day but the rain and lightening made driving conditions rather harsh. One could see that Jamie had made many friends in Washington DC since last year he lived here for several months doing research and analysis sponsored by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

One Sindh and Two Perspectives

As usual the Sindhi katchahery (heart-to-heart chit-chat) moved from one topic to another. The optimism of Jami that Sindhis were gaining ground in every city and town surprised many. He stated that the use of Sindhi language and pride in Sindhi culture was on upswing. He said even though the present government has yet to deliver on its promises to Sindhis, the discriminatory policies of Musharraf had ended. This was rather a surprise to some including me as our observations were that there was a immense shortage of Sindhi-medium schools in large cities of Sindh such as Karachi, Hyderabad, and even in Larkano. The fast take over by private school systems such Citizen Foundation of education has made Urdu and English as primary medium-of-instruction in large cities and towns of Sindh while leaving the Sindhi language on backbenches. Another topic of discussion centered on contributions and political mistakes of G. M. Syed and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. The contribution of G. M. Syed through his writings primarily through his books had played a major role in the awakening of Sindhis to realize that they were a distinct nation were lauded at the gathering. His political mistakes, particularly the warmth he showed to the dictator General Zia ul Haq and formation of MQM was criticized. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was remembered as some one who inspired and awakened common Sindhi and Pakistani men and women to become conscious of their potential. But, then he was also criticized for not accepting Awami League’s majority in elections that ultimately led to the separation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

He made us feel poverty and sorrows of Sindhis

However, the epic poem by Sardar Shah that he wrote about the simplicities and complexities of Sindh after some one had asked him where he had come from became the highlight of the evening. Sardar literally took us through the valleys, hills, and deserts of Sindh; he introduced us to poets, writers, farmers, waderas, students and small shopkeepers of the home-land; he made us walk through rain, sunshine, floods, droughts, and disappearing mangroves of Indus delta; he made us feel the poverty, sorrows and exploitation of Sindhis; and finally took us to the journey of determination, inspiration, and hopes of his people.

Indeed, it was an evening of Sindhiat that kept me awake long after we left the katchahery and said good by to our Sindhi visitors.

Courtesy: Sindhi e-lists/ e-groups, July 18, 2010.

This is what Sindh claims to be secular, and being the land of Sufis!!

“Minorities have assurances and guarantees of their rights and the safety and security of their lives and properties in Pakistan. Also Sindh claims to be generally secular, being the land of Shah Latif and other Sufis. See what is happening in Karachi, the capital of Sindh” : Via –  Aziz Narejo

Read more >> The Times of India >> Hindus in Sindh attacked after boy drinks from mosque cooler

Musarat Nazir wonderful folk song

Others may agree or disagree but the fact is that the Punjabi culture and language is closer to Sindhi culture and language. Physically we share the same land from centuries and have similar culture. Of course present Sindh, Punjab and almost whatever is called Pakistan now, was referred to as Indus civilization historically. Political rifts after creation of Pakistan have made us differentiate each other, probably this is one of the thing we have after partition.
Well here is wonderful folk song from Musarat Nazir, listen to the language and you should easily follow it, whether you know Punjabi or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2QhDM3q6cY&feature=related

Well Done Punjab/ Pakistan!

…. stealing the water of Sindh. –  Mir Raza

Killing of Habib Jalib Balouch and stealing the water of Sindh by force has damaged the old and already fragmented edifice of this country but the short heightened leadership of Paunjab have no vision to see this damage.

… They are DWARFS, they can’t read the writing on the wall, they haven’t learned from the seceding of Bangladesh from Pakistan, murdering 4 Bhuttos and sending their dead bodies to Sindh. They are racist and fascist, they are killers, that is way today Balochistan is bleeding.

They think, they can steal water and other resources of Sindh and Baluchistan. They can open Chashma-Jehlum link (CJ) canal by force but they don’t know how much damage they have done of this federation by their illegal actions. By Opening CJ Canal illegally, they are working well to destroy the rest of Pakistan. Well Done Punjab.

Courtesy: Sindhi e-lists/ e-groups, July 15, 2010

Balochs Support Sindhi People’s Legitimate Struggle for Their Waters

Baloch Human Rights Council (UK) Supports Sindhi People’s Legitimate Struggle for Their Waters

London: Baloch Human Rights Council UK (BHRC-UK) in a press release issued today condemned the acting Chairman of Indus River System Authority’s (IRSA) for the unilateral and illegal decision to open Chashma-Jehlum link canal.

BHRC-UK noted that while in Sindh people do not have water to drink forget about agriculture, this is a criminal act which shows their continued disregard and arrogance towards the rights of other nations.

BHRC-UK recognises the historical rights of Sindhis on their natural resources including waters and notes with great concern the arrogant disregard of the unanimous decisions of Sindh, Balochistan and Paktunkhuwa assemblies, thousands of rallies, strikes and hunger strikes in Sindh and demands of the civil society organisations.

BHRC demands that the Chashma-Jehlum Link Canal should be immediately closed and reiterated that Baloch people are together with their sindhi brothers in their legitimate struggle for their historical rights on waters of river Indus.

London – 15 july 2010

NATIONAL DISHARMONY

by Dr Ali Akbar Dhakan, Karachi

The Punjab Province dominates in four aspects of the Pakistan`s resources because of possessing about 90% in the total employment and financial resources through four organizations like (i)Punjab Govt itself, (ii) Federal Government`s all Ministries and departments, (iii) Defense and (iv) Federal Territory i.e Islamabad and etc.

In the Provincial status, no other Province`s people get any employment in the set up of the Punjab Govt.In the Federal Quota, major portion about 90 % employees and officers belong to Punjab because of the domination of number of Punjab bureaucracy working in the establishment who vigilantly look after the quota rather get major share more than their prescribed quota, in defense and other organizations. Each citizen is fully aware about who dominates and fourthly in Islamabad federal territory where no employee of the province can be absorbed as Islamabad domicile is must for him.At the highest level about 90 percent bureaucrats belong to the Punjab.In these circumstances, they feel themselves very strong and dominant and get the interest of Punjab intact and give benefit to Punjab and thus they devour about 90% or big chunk of the employment and also national exchequer of the country.

No body can raise objection to their actions of getting such dominant share in all respects but in the case of national integrity, they have proved to be very harmful as due to their such behavior since independence, we lost half of the Pakistan.

Just forget all such old and past events and examples but here their latest and very recent malicious and forceful actions are mentioned i.e (i) The bureaucracy considering them very strong and forceful, they violated the national agreement sought in case of 7th NFC award at Gawadar, only one month before the current years budget.The whole Pakistan and all leaders, rulers i.e all CMs, PM, President and all Ministers celebrated it to get the unanimous decision for the sake of brotherhood and national cohesion but two or three highest bureaucrats and majority of lower grade manipulated the unanimous decision taken for the Unity and Cohesion merged into the dust by twisting the decision of sharing financial resources between all the provinces particularly the decisions about the shares to be distributed to the Sindh Province and dodging the PM and the president of Pakistan to get their maligned notification issued by them. When pointed out to them by the Sindh Chief Minister and media their malicious action, they argued that as, the present Govt. is run by PPP, it would be in favor of Sindh people, if they allow them to do what they want to do and think better otherwise the present Govt belonging to Sindhi people or PPP would be in danger.It is astonishing to describe that the matter is still in the doldrums and no final ordinance for the distribution of national resources in accordance with the decision taken in 7th NFC Award, has so far been issued.

The second incident is about the stubborn, forceful and hasty decision taken by a bureaucrat of the Punjab in regard to the water allowed in the Thal and Chashma canal without the consent of the other members of Irsa belonging to Sindh and Balochistan.

If we consider only two above mentioned malicious and forceful actions of Punjab bureaucrats, how and what hope of brotherhood and national integrity in people of all Provinces of Pakistan can be sustained and expected.The result of such malaified activities of Punjab Bureaucrats can be predicted as very harmful and fatal for National Unity. (God forbid)

14-07-2010

WATER WAR

‘If no water for Sindh, no port for Punjab’

KARACHI: Sindh can stop supplying gas to Punjab, block highways leading towards the province and cut its connection from seaports if Punjab tries to block its water, said Dr Kaisar Bengali, Adviser to Chief Minister on planning and development.

Addressing a seminar titled Democracy, Provincial Autonomy, Challenges and Future Prospects on Sunday, he said the decision of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) acting chairman to open the Chashma-Jhelum link canal was a violation of the Irsa act.

This irrational attitude of the Punjab bureaucracy is not new, Bengali claimed, adding that they have been controlling more than their share of the nation’s resources.

“Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa would have no other option but to ink [transit] agreements with India if we cut off their link of Port Qasim and stopped supplying gas,” he said.

Punjab has forgotten that the province receives rainfall as all the clouds head towards to from Sindh, the adviser said with a smile.

The participants of the seminar resolved that the Chashma-Jhelum link canal should be closed and demanded for the federal government to honour its commitments and agreements regarding the distribution of the Indus waters.

They also claimed that the Irsa acting chairman should be punished for violating regulations.

He went on to say that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is now confined to Punjab and 50 per cent of the parliamentarians who have fake degrees belong to the party.

Meanwhile, Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said that the Sindh government has achieved the National Finance Commission (NFC) award after a 19-year struggle. The people opposing the government’s policies had signed the NFC award allotting only 37 per cent of the share to the provinces, he said, adding, “Credit should be given to the present government for giving 56 per cent share of the finances to the provinces.”

Courtesy: Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2010.

Disparity in water distribution is a major cause of conflict in Pakistan

Seeds of discontent: discrepancy in water distribution

by Aziz Narejo, TX

Disparity in water distribution is a major cause of conflict in the country. It creates anger, ill-will, animosity and agitation among the people and the provinces. The government’s failure to address the issue in an appropriate, effective and impartial manner makes the matter worse.

Continue reading Disparity in water distribution is a major cause of conflict in Pakistan

Where do we seek justice for destruction of Indus Delta?

by: Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia

.. Indus Delta Development Program (DDP) has several articles on how Sindh’s delta region is getting destroyed systematically by the greediness of one upper riparian province. The article “The green postures of Indus Delta are turning into desert and lifeless” traces the prosperity of this area from Kalhora rule to the destructive transformation of this area since 1947. During Kalhora era, 170 Million Acre Feet (MAF) of water used to flow into the delta compared to 5-6 MAF that is being allowed now.

An article published in the Daily news on April 10, 2010 says “… Indus delta was dying and at least 35 MAF water flow was required downstream Kotri on permanent basis for its restoration, otherwise the delta would completely vanish and the sea would erode the coastal land”.

Continue reading Where do we seek justice for destruction of Indus Delta?

Pakistan : Punjab ’s highhandedness on Sindh’s water

London, UK, (PR) : World Sindhi Congress (WSC) strongly condemns the highhandedness of Punjab govt with regards to water of river Indus. Despite, calls from three provincial assemblies, the members of water body IRSA, political and civil society organisations, thousands of demonstrations, strikes, hunger strikes of people of Sindh, the upper riparian jingoists are determined to overrun the overwhelming case of Sindh over waters of river Indus. The case of Sindh over water has been proven again and again on the basis of international law, historical rights and the water treatise, still Punjab govt is adamant to carry out its illegal domination and use of waters of river Indus. The current crisis has resulted from allowing illegally water to flow in Chashma-Jehlam Link Canal and Thal canal for irrigation, while people of Sindh do not have water to drink. Punjab has stored water in Mangla Dam for autumn cultivation while Sindh’s fertile lands are fast becoming a lifeless desert. The man-made water crisis is threatening the extinction of a civilisation that flourished for thousands of years. The current arrogant chauvinism of Punjab govt has taken the conflict and crisis to a new height. The entire Sindh is burning.

WSC humbly requests all the political parties of Sindh, NGOs, and civil society organisations to take a united stand, leaving all differences behind, on this issue of bare survival.

WSC to take the case of people of Sindh for their survival against the criminal onslaught of upper riparian province on their rightful waters to all relevant international venues including United Nations, UNPFII (United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues) and Environmental and Water NGOs. WSC is also seriously exploring all the possibilities to take this case to the International Court of Justice in Hague, The Netherland.

July 11, 2010

Punjab – Sindh : Troubled waters

Editorial : Troubled waters

With both the Punjab and Sindh holding firm on their stance over the controversial opening of the Chashma-Jhelum link canal, which has led the member of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) from Sindh and the federation to ready their resignations, the prime minister has been forced to intervene. He will be attempting to pour oil over the churning waters. But even as he does so, there seems to be a realisation that the structure of Irsa may need to be altered to prevent the periodic tidal waves that erupt and threaten to cause a great deal of damage.The orders issued by the member from the Punjab, who is also acting chairman of the authority, would serve the interests of his province but damage those of Sindh by reducing flow down the Indus. To rub salt into wounds, the Punjab has now sought additional water through the canal. There is quite evidently an element of selfishness in the way water is demanded by each province, heedless of the needs of others. The battles between the Punjab and Sindh represent nothing new. But if we look at the matter realistically and dispassionately, it seems almost inevitable that this will happen. The Punjab, as the majority province, has not been known for its sensitivity to the concerns of others. And hence the current acrimony on this issue, with the smaller provinces clearly feeling discriminated against.

Read more >>- The Express Tribune

End of the River?

Of the two largest Southasian deltas, one flourishes as the other faces the threat of being overrun by the sea.

by Amar Guriro

At a time when melting glaciers, shrinking coastal lands, depleting freshwater sources and vanishing forests are hot issues across the world, the tidal mangrove forests of the Sundarban constitute an encouraging example of effective conservation. Spread over 10,000 sq km in India and Bangladesh, with some 60 percent falling in the latter, the Sundarban, part of the Ganges delta, the world’s largest, takes in the endpoints of the mighty Ganga, Meghna and Brahmaputra rivers. A fusion zone of fresh- and saltwater, constituting a complex network of tidal waterways, vast scattered mudflats and hundreds of small islands filled with salt-tolerant mangroves, and home to a dizzying array of plants and animals, the Sundarban was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Continue reading End of the River?

Indus river : No one bothers about water problem: Abbasi

By Mohammad Hussain Khan

HYDERABAD, Nov 7: Eminent water expert and former chairman of the Technical Committee on Water Resources A.N.G Abbasi has said his report on water should be buried once and for all as no one seems to be ready to implement it.

Continue reading Indus river : No one bothers about water problem: Abbasi

Water theft

IRSA Sindh chief resigns

KARACHI: The chairman Indus River System Authority (IRSA), Amanullah Khan, has resigned from his post citing his inability to perform the duties.

In a letter to Ministry of Water and Power, he said it was difficult to carry out his official obligations so he was tendering his resignation.

The sources in IRSA Sindh said Sindh usually receives its irrigation water quota by May 7 every year but due to closure of CJ Link Canal, the Sindh growers have lost the benefit of May weather on the crops.

“Water theft is on the rise in Punjab and other provinces are not getting their due share of irrigation water,” he added.

Usually water from CJ Link Canal is released by April 15 every crop season but this time, Sindh is still waiting for its water share.

Sindh is still waiting for around 65,000 cusecs of water of its quota, whereas province has only received 23,000 cusecs of water this season, he maintained. The Punjab government released about 25,000 cusecs water from CJ Link Canal during 17 days of talks with Sindh officials.

Read more >>- Daily Times

Courtesy:  http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20106\30\story_30-6-2010_pg5_12

Stop Sucking Indus River through illegal canals (leeches)

Harees of Sindh are awakening and fighting for their rights

by: Khalid Hashmani

Newspaper stories indicate that Sindhi Harees have reached the point where they feel that enough is enough. They are fighting back and it may be the beginning of the end of the exploiters who have dug illegal canals (Leeches)/ [Chashma Link canal] and dams to siphon off water from the Indus river before it reaches Sindh. Let us support their cause and join their struggle to bring an end to their plight.

Continue reading Stop Sucking Indus River through illegal canals (leeches)

A Breakthrough in use of Sindhi on Internet

M.B. Sindhi

Sindhi Web Keyboard: A Breakthrough in use of Sindhi on Internet/ Web

by Abdul-Majid Bhurgri

I am really excited to share this breakthrough in use of Sindhi on Internet. In collaboration with KeyManWeb, I have got developed this virtual Sindhi Web Keyboard, using which you can instantly write in Sindhi on any webpage, without the need to install Sindhi support, fonts or keyboards.

All you have to do is simply drag a link to your browsers Bookmarks toolbar or right-click it and select “Bookmark This Link”. That is it. Now, when you want to write in Sindhi, all you have to do is click on this Bookmark as soon as the webpage has loaded in your browser and start writing in Sindhi. It really is as simple as that.

Using it, you can write Sindhi in any email (like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.), or search the web for Sindhi words and phrases using Google, Bing or any other search engine, and write your comments on any forums (like Facebook etc.) or blogs in your own sweet mother tongue Sindhi. You can also view the keyboard onscreen.

The Bookmark is available from my web page www.bhurgri.com. Alternatively, you can also go to Keyman Web page here, type Sindhi in search box or scroll to Sindhi keyboard in the list.

After this, there is no excuse at all for not using Sindhi on internet/web. Please convey this message to as many friends and mailing lists as possible to promote extensive use of Sindhi.

http://www.bhurgri.com

CHASHMA, MAIN CAUSE OF INDUS ARIDNESS

By Dr Ali AKbar Dhakan

In 1989, I visited Chashma Canal about 40 kms away from D.I Khan in NWFP towards north and 25 kms from Mianwali towards west in the punjab province… At the distance of one furlong from the gates upstream, I wondered to see that the water touched the tops of the gates and it looked as if the gates were about to break as all the gates were closed and no drop of water was flowing downstream of the gates looked dry and arid.So at that time I felt that the whole water of the canal was used as the reservoir at the upper side of the project in the Punjab and the Indus river remained arid and dry not during only the off season or winter but also during the season of summer or abkalani period. It is because of closure of all gates downstream, the shortage of water occur in the Indus River making the Sindh land barren and arid even during the summer season when the water in greater quantity flows due to melting of snow in all the mountainous areas of Pakistan.The chashma Barrage wet land site located Indus monsoon Forest comprises of a large barrage, a water storage reservoir and a series of embankments, serving as flood bounds which divides the reservoir into five shallow lakes at low water level Chashma Hydro power project is located on the right abutment of Chashma barrage on the Indus River near the village Chashma in the Mianwali district about 304 Kms northwest of Lahore. The project was estimated at Rs.18 billion including foreign exchange component of more than Rs.9 billion.Not only the constructing left Bank project, the water became very much scant in the downstream Indus river but it became more harmful for the Sindh when the Chashma right bank irrigation project was started in 1970 with a feasibility study by WAPDA to irrigate 14174 hectare in D.I Khan(NWFP) and 7075 hectare in D.I Khan Punjab.The actual construction of the canal was started in 1978 and completed in 1987.The other reason of shortage of water in Indus River was the Taunsa Barrage on the river Indus which was completed in 1958 to divert water to two large areas on the left and right banks of the river making irrigated agriculture possible for about 1.18 Mha of this arid landscape in Punjab province. These both projects of Irrigation on Indus river are the main reasons for making the Indus River arid and dry and have turned the Sindh Land barren and uncultivated since 2-3 decades.It is why the whole bed of the Indus River has been heaps of sand and created problems of cultivating and producing various seasonal crops in whole Sindh.Not only these two projects have been proved harmful for Sindh but the Indus basin Treaty with India in 1960 by the first Dictator regime of Pakistan under the leadership of Ayub whose Marshalaw caused the breakup of the country after his ruler ship of 10 years.

Continue reading CHASHMA, MAIN CAUSE OF INDUS ARIDNESS