Indus Farming Blog

Is Kalabagh Dam feasible?

2005-12-21T07:07:00.000+05:00

In Sindh-Politics list, Zulfiqar Halepoto responded to one email sent by Farrah Saleh. Here we give first the email of Ms Farrah and then reply of Mr Halepoto. –Ed.

Farrah Saleh of www.cchd.org.pk wrote addressing to one, Adeel:

Dear Adeel, I was kind of surprised to read the argument you posted against Kalabagh dam. I think we are (or at least claim to be) civil society activists.

The issue here is not Punjab V/s other provinces. The issue that is being discussed by all group members is that the Kalabagh dam is technically sound enough to foster development process and cope with water-loss issues or not?

Your mail also aroused melancholic feelings. It is really sad to see that we can’t think beyond our preconceived notions and ideas.

Do you really think that the people you are talking about are true representatives of Punjab???? You just can’t impose the guilt of a few on all the community. If this is the Universal Law than there is no point discussing bias against Islam in Western media??????? If this is the ultimate truth than the terrorist group do represent Muslims in general??????

We here in Punjab also feel deprived. The people here in Punjab also suffer from the same problems that are faced by people in other provinces (poverty, [in]security, education, health, corruption, etc.). Please try and identify the root-cause.

It is all the policies of our governments that do not represent wishes of people.

It is the criminal-silence of people that has encouraged our governments to play around with us. And in spite of raising voice against all the injustices, what are we doing currently? Leveling charges against each other?

Is this the model that we want our generations to follow?

I don't believe that those who are against Kalabagh dam are anti-Pakistani or those who are favoring it are a symbol of hegemony of Punjab.

Please keep the record straight. Share technical information based on logic rather than on acquisitions.

Afifa

With Imense Regards

Farrah Parvaiz Saleh

Zulfiqar Halepoto replies:

Dear Farrah Saleh

Couple of day’s back we had Fakhar Zaman here in Hyderabad and had a long discussion on many political and other issues including Sindh Punjab relations, role of federation, concerns of small provinces and many other issues which are threatening the peoples’ integrity of the entire four provinces.

Interestingly few points are raised by you with the same concerns that who are dividing people at what cost?

Mian Nawaz Sharif was the emergence of Punjabi nationalism. He announced Kalabagh Dam (KBD) and took the decision back. But Punjabi nation did not launch a moment against Nawaz Sharif on his turnaround decision and he was not thrown out of power by the common Punjabi; in fact he was ousted by the military establishment.

We believe that lot of people in Punjab especially the enlightened people (including a great number of Siraiki Wasaib people) are in favor of the opinion that the concerns and reservations of Sindh and other small province must perceive a sound of great hearing with a statesmanship attitude. But from whom we are demanding this. A military regime that ruined the constitution and people’s mandate? In the face value the illegal regime of Musharraf is leaving the impression in Sindh that if he will not build Kalabagh Dam Punjabis will not allow him to rule further. If we believe this theory that he is doing ill-political tactics to blame Punjab for the ill-designs of military establishment, than who will make the record strait. Obviously Punjab’s people. If the people of Punjab believe that civil and military alliance is settling their scores by putting gun on the shoulder of Punjab then certainly Punjab has to clear its position.

I fully agree that accusation is not a healthy sign and will increase the gap among the people of the state but on point I want to focus here that since you are not known to the subject of water and dam politics, so you are drawing the conclusion that KBD is technically feasible.

I can send you hundreds of papers, written by the know hydrologists, water experts and dam experts, irrigation and environmental exports, who have rejected KBD not on the EMOTIONAL grounds but on very very technical and logical grounds.

I can quote few names Mr Rafi Khan (SDPI), Umer Asghar Khan (need no introduction), the chairman of technical committee on water resources Mr. A N G Abbasi, Mr. Fateh Ullah Khan (former Chairman IRSA), Late Abdul Rasool Memon (former chairman IRSA), Dr Asadullah Kazi (Vice Chancellor ISRA University) Senator Abdul Majeed Kazi and hundred of others.

KBD is not rejected by the political parties and millions of people of Sindh, but if you will look at the official stand (not taken by Arbab Rahim) but taken by the irrigation and water experts of Ministry of power and Irrigation. They have rejected KBD on very solid technical grounds.

Even if we say they all are Sindhis and Pakhtoons than please have a look on the KBD feasibility report 1983, Volume III and XIII, where KBD is considered as NONVIABLE project by the consultants, paid by the WAPDA.

I am available for any kind of assistance if you require understanding KBD on TECHNICAL ground.

Regards
Zulfiqar Halepoto
Forum for Conflict Resolution (FCR)

Kalabagh Dam Shocker! - Musharafs Outrageous Comments

2005-12-15T12:10:00.000+05:00

Kalabagh Dam Shocker! - Musharafs Outrageous Comments

--- In mirpurkhas@yahoogroups.com, Never Mind wrote:

http://dawn.com/2005/12/12/top2.htm
I was a bit shocked by Musharrafs statement about the kalabagh dam..at one side he is asking for consensus and offering constitutional guarantees (which is a bit odd coming from a person who suspended the constitution) and then he says this:

Answering a question, he warned that Punjab would topple any future government which dared to halt the construction of the Kalabagh dam once work on it was undertaken.

He said it was now evident that no political party in the country could form government without the support from Punjab.

MY OPINION - IS NT THIS A BIT OF A BULLY BOY TACTIC

For any reponse to any emailsd I send please contact me personally on saffyhuk@y... or sarfraz_hayat@h...

Mammoth protest marches in Sindh

2005-03-30T10:53:00.000+05:00

How can anyone say that there are only few thousand Sindhis who have politicized the issue of Kalabagh Dam. The fact is that every Sindhi is opposed tooth and nail to the KBD, GTC and the like projects. These mammoth crowds protesting against arbitrary blockade of River Indus provides ample evidence of how people of Sindh view these projects and what impact Federal and Punjab government are having on the hearts of the people of Sindh. For the federal government it can be just an opposition of handful Sindhis but for Sindhis, its matter of life and death. The rift is widening day by day. Hope sanity prevails and real powers realize the gravity of the situation before irreversible damage is done (- Mir Atta Talpur).

Ayaz Latif Palijo reports:

Addressing the most exceptional, mammoth and unique protest march of more than two hundred thousand (2 lac) Sindhis here in Karachi today, Chief of Awami Tahreek Mr. Rasool Bux Palijo, Sindh Assembly's Opposition Leader MPA Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Father in Law of PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, Hakim Ali Zardari, Human Rights Lawyer Ayaz Latif Palijo, Chairman Peoples Party Sindh MPA Sayed Qaim Ali Shah, Chairman Taraqi Pasand Party Dr. Qadir Magsi, President Balochistan National Party Dr. Haee Baloch, President Alliance for Restoration of Democracy Sindh Zain Ansari, President Awami National Party Sindh Shahid Sayed, General Secretary Sindh National Front Gul Muhammad Jakhrani, President Sindh National Party Ameer Bhanbhro, Secretary Sindh Water Committee Abrar Qazi, General Secretary Sindhiani Tahreek Zahida Shaikh, President Muslim League Nawaz Sindh Sardar Rahim, Mushataq Lashari, MPA Sassui Palijo, MNA Shagufta Jumani, MNA Dr. Fahmeeda Mirza, MPA Nasreen Chandio, Dist Nazim Badin Kamal Chang, Writer Jami Chandio, Dr. Nazir Shaikh, President Fisherfolk Forum Muhammad Ali shah, President Workers Party Usman Baloch, Vice Chairman Sindh Bar Council Advocate Noor Naz Agha, writer Hafiz Kunbhar, Jeejee Zareena Baloch, Central Joint Secretary of ANP Ameen Khatak, Head of PATTAN Sarwar Bari, Hadi Bhat, Wishnoo Mal, Qadir Ranto, Hakim Zangejo, Noor Nabi Rahoojo and other leaders have demanded to stop work on the canal project, henceforth and to shelve of the proposed Kalabgh Dam. They said that the government was blatantly ignoring the unanimous resolutions passed by the Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan Assemblies in which it had been demanded that Kalabagh Dam and work on the Thal Canal be immediately stopped. The protest leaders said that the government was spending billions of rupees on a controversial project that was not acceptable by the people of three out of four provinces. The leaders congratulated Awami Tahreek and Rasool Bux Palijo for this heart-awakening march and Nisar Khuhro, Fahmeeda Mirza and Qadir Magsi saluted the workers of Sindhiani Tahreek for their 685 kilometers long march, they said their parties would not allow the rulers to play with the fate of the country and with the life of the people of Sindh. They said the participation of leaders of various political parties indicates that they are united over the issue and added that the government would have to quit the project. Sindh had been the victim of injustice for many years, Palijo, Khuhro, Haee and Zardari added that the entire world accepts the fact that the tale-enders should get the water facility but the rulers, on the contrary, were not ready to accept this right of the tail-enders.

Earlier when the March resumed its journey from Karsaz at 1-30 pm, the Citizens of Karachi witnessed one of the most unique shows and a lifetime opportunity, when more than 70000 Sindhi women carrying banners and small children started raising slogans: "toon dam tho thaheen..jhero aa, tho Sindh sukaeen ..jhero aa, O general tosan.jhero aa, O Musharaf tosan.jhero aa, marsoon marsooon..sindh na desoon, bhuta theesooon..sindh na desoon, fazil theesoon...sindh na desooon, doda theesooon..sindh na desoon, hemon theesooon..sindh na desoon, dam damadam...Palijo, keena vikio jo...Palijo, keeena jhukio jo..Palijo, Mehran jo leadr..Palijo, shahar kehenja..sindhian ja, Darya kehenjo..sindhain jo, Karachi kehenjo sindhian jo..." When the front end of the March was crossing Mehran Hotel and turning towards Metropolitan the rear end was still crossing Nursery signal and Gora Qabrustan. When the march ended at press club at 6 pm, all the three roads were tightly packed with mind-boggling number of Sindhi men and women. The Shahra-e-Fiasal, Karsaz Road, Landhi Road, University Road and latter CM House road also witnessed a complete mess in vehicular movement as different district convoys of Awami Tahreek, SST, Sindhiani Tahreek and Sindhi Haree Tahreek took out processions from various locations. Even cameramen and crew of GEO, KTN and ARY One were comparing this march with million march show of MMA in Peshawar.

While Addressing the marchers, Awami Tahreek Leader Mr. Rasool Bux Palijo, said that Sindhis and other oppressed nations can get their emancipation by following the Path of Shah Latif. He said the original Pakistan was lost in the battlefields of Dhaka, this is no more the Pakistan of MA Jinnah. He said the federal government is responsible for creating artificial shortage of water, unemployment, closure of sugar mills and reduction in prices of crops. He said that the people of Sindh would have to wage a long struggle on the issue of Indus waters and natural resources of Sindh. He said Musharaf is more cruel and brutal then Changez Khan and Hitler. He said the Long March was a vote of no-confidence in General Pervez Musharraf's policy and a manifestation of the fact the people of Sindh consider the controversial projects detrimental to their survival. He said Sindh had been the victim of injustice for many years and added that not only Kalabagh Dam and Thal Canal are dangerous but any further cut on Indus will destroy the entire Indus Civilization. He said this is not the Pakistan, which Sindhis accepted in 1947, that Pakistan was lost in the battlefields of Dhaka, when generals and establishment fought against their own fellow citizens. He said if any individual or party would compromise on Kalabagh or any other dam will be declared traitor of Sindh and its entry in rural areas would be banned by Sindhi masses. He criticized the provincial government and accused it of having failed to advocate Sindh's case. He said Gen Pervez Musharraf had failed to canvass Sindhis for construction of the Kalabagh dam, now he is in search of some betrayers, agents and dallaals. He received standing ovation when he said the people of the province were capable of resisting such moves if they were pushed any further. He urged the leaders of all the parties to join in the efforts for the rights of Sindh. He warned George W Bush, Tony Blair and leaders of Europian Union that their endorsement of present Pakistani rulers has encouraged them to destroy the fate of 40 million peace loving Sindhis.

In his breathtaking speech Advocate Ayaz Latif Palijo accused the government of acting against national interests just to remain in power. He warned western leaders that their endorsement of present rulers has encouraged them to commit the genocide of Sindhis. He said there are two Pakistan exiting within the country, one for Punjab and other for four oppressed nations. One is flourishing with bumper cotton crops, motorways, basant melaas and over flooding canals and other Pakistan is dying at the hands of hunger, poverty and suicides. He said after the release of rapists of Mukhtaran Bibi, the suomoto notice has been taken, but on the other hand Dr. Sahzia was forced to leave the country and when Sheereen Soomro was raped the peaceful protesters were sent to jails and Qadir Bux Jattoi is still in exile. He praised the sacrifices of Shaheed Fazil Rahoo, Nazeer Abbasi, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Soreh Badshah Pagara, Murtaza Bhutto, Lala Asad, Ayaz Samon and martyrs of Thorhee Phatak and Shah Bandar and said this mammoth crowd makes a promise to these beloved souls that every drop of their blood will be accounted for. Quoting the stanzas of Shaikh Ayaz, Latif Saeen and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Ayaz Latif Palijo said our rulers have been showing their solidarity with victims of Gaza and Bosnia, but their lips and tongues are silent on the massacre of Dera Bugti. During his speech thousand of Sindhiani Tahreek women and students were chanting "hoshoo theesooon..sindh na desoon, dolah theesooon..sindh na desoon, marsoon marsoon.sindh na desoon" He said today Indian and Pakistani Punjabi leaders are walking hand in hand in Lahore and Delhi but A J Uttam, Popti Heeranandani, Mohan Kalapna, Bhagwanti Nanwani and Gobind Malhi were not even allowed to see and touch the grounds of their ancestral villages in Sindh and one can imagine the depressed condition of Narain Shayam when he said: "Allai kahree gharee shyam un maN niktaseen...watan waran ta cha sarhad disan naseeb na thee" Ayaz Latif said while our waderas and sardars are busy in exchanging permits, plots, prostitutes and prados, the generals, bureaucrats, molvis and terrorists are destroying already wounded Sindh, Balochistan and Seraiki belt, economically, geographically and socially. He said the time has come when we should emphasize upon the identity of the broad, permanent and fundamental interests of toiling, right-less and oppressed masses of all the provinces, of the South Asian region and of the entire globe. Ayaz received a remarkable ovation and an all-round congratulations by different political party heads.

Speaking on the occasion Nisar Khuhro, Qadir Magsi, Qaim Ali Shah, Hakim Ali Zardai and Sassui Palijo said 80 per cent of the population of the province had been directly affected due to the shortage of water. They acknowledged the role of Awami Tahreek, clarified that PPP will never support Kalabagh Dam and appealed to the Sindhi people to unite on one platform to launch a joint struggle for their rights. They said that those, who were calling the Sindhi and Baloch leaders agents of foreign powers, were themselves enemies of Pakistan. They deplored that the same language was being used today which was used in 1971, leading to the separation of East Pakistan. They said that Sindh was being converted into a desert to irrigate the lands of retired army men.

Daily Dawn, Karachi reports:

30 March 2005 Wednesday 19 Safar 1426

KARACHI: Awami Tehrik calls for decisive struggle: 'Long march' concludes

By Habib Khan Ghori

KARACHI, March 29: Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palejo on Tuesday called upon the people to unite to launch a decisive struggle to get their rights which were promised by the Quaid-i-Azam.

He was speaking at the end of a long-march by the Awami Tehreek against the Thal Canal, Kalabagh Dam and other controversial projects. The march which began in Sukkur on Mrach 1 culminated the Karachi Press Club.

Before culminating peacefully, the long march turned into a massive rally which was addressed by PPP leaders Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, Hakim Ali Zardari, Awami National Party leader Shahi Syed, Baloch National Party leader Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, PML-N leader Sardar Abdul Rahim, ARD Sindh President Zain Ansari and Jeay Sindh Tarraqi Pasand Party leader Dr Quadir Magsi.

The participants of the march covered 580 kms on foot during 29-day long journey. Every day, a batch of 250 activists, including 50 women, used to cover 20 to 25 kms on foot who were joined by local population in every town on its route.

The participants, a majority of them women who came in four-wheelers from different parts of the province, were holding party flags and banners, and were raising slogans against Kalabagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal. The most popular slogan was "Musharraf should make choice between Kalabagh Dam or Pakistan".

The speakers flayed the government, and described Gen President Musharraf as a usurper and illegal ruler who, they claimed, had no right to impose his will against the verdict of the people.

Mr Palejo said the present Pakistan was not the Pakistan of Quaid-i-Azam, and stated that the army was killing its own people in Balochistan, while operation was going on in Wana in NWFP and Sindh was being denied its water share.

The AT chief called upon the people to launch a decision struggle, and said the 1940 resolution had committed entity and autonomy to all units wherein all would be equal and have equal rights.

He warned the rulers that people were yearning for a new system based on equality, justice, and human friendliness. "They cannot be suppressed any more; and they will never allow anti-Sindh and anti-people projects to be built under coercion."

Referring to President Gen Musharraf's public meeting in Sindh, he said that Gen Musharraf while visiting Sindh had been hurling threats upon the people. "We want to tell Gen Musharraf that the decision-making hour has come. People are now aware of their rights and they are going to wage a decisive struggle in which either he or we would be the winner.

"We don't need present Pakistan which lost its existence when Bangladesh was created. Now we will build a new Pakistan wherein all provinces would have equal rights. For this, all Sindhis, Balochs and Pathans should join hands to wind up the present system and replace it with a democratic, people and human being friendly system.

He said Gen Musharraf wants to build dams over river Indus, depriving us of even whatever water was available. In Sindh, PPP emerged as a winner in the 2002 elections, but he handed over power to people in Azizabad who were facing serious charges of terrorism and murders. At Nine-Zero, he said, the rate for employment was Rs50,000. He said he was not against Urdu-speaking people and their culture which was in fact our culture also.

Dr Hayee Baloch said now all oppressed people of the country had joined hands to launch a struggle get rid of the illegal and unconstitutional rulers. He opposed construction of cantonments and mega projects in Balochistan by terming them a conspiracy to control resources of local people and use them for the hegemony of a province.

Mr Shahi Syed said Pakistan and Kalabagh Dam could not go together. He said Gen Musharraf was delivering speeches in support of Kalabagh Dam. He should allow all other generals in the army to exercise this right to come and express their views about Kalabag Dam.

Mr Nisar Kuhro said today people in every street were protesting against the Kalabag Dam and other anti-Sindh projects, but Gen Musharraf had closed his eyes. "We would not allow Gen Musharraf to become Gorbachev by foiling all attempts to disintegrate Pakistan," he added.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah said people were dying of hunger, poverty and thirst in Sindh, the PPP would hold the general accountable after coming to power. Mr Hakim Ali Zardari said that PPP would always side with the people in their every struggle for the rights.

Sardar Abdul Rahim said Pakistan Muslim League-N was with the people of Sindh in their struggle as Mr Nawaz Sharif made it clear that if even a single man was opposed to the project, it should not be built.

Mr Qadir Magsi appealed to the people to make the Ponam's wheel jam and shutter down strike successful. Other speakers included Ms Arena Baloch, Ms Zamia Sheikh, Azeri Qurush, Air Bhambhro, Kamal Chang, Gul Mohammad Jakhrani, Ms Fehmida Mirza, Ms Noor Naz Agha, Ms Shugufta Jumani, Ms Sasui Palejo, Abrar Qazi, Ayaz Lateef Palejo, and Qadir Ranto.

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2005

Peoples Assembly reject LBOD in Badin

2005-03-29T15:26:00.000+05:00

At 09:38 PM 28/03/2005 -0800, Zulfiqar Halepoto wrote:

The people of Badin had organized “Peoples Assembly” on March 27, 2005 at village Sheikhani Garhi, District Badin, Sindh, Pakistan, in which a large number of local people, local bodies representatives, trade union activists, legislators, civil society groups, media and local business men participated and rejected the multi-million World bank and ADB funding Left Bank Outfall Drainage (LBOD) programme.

“Peoples Assembly” was the outcome of the peaceful protests of the affected communities, who filed an inspection request to the World Bank inspection panel for justice not knowing that these laws and justice systems are made to legitimize and protect the Banks rather than provide any relief to the people.

The panel was about to visit the field in the end of March, but Bank management managed to get false letter from Sindh government in order to postpone the investigation. When the local justice system does not work for poor, international institutions violate the fundamental rights in the name of development then people have to decide collectively for their future course of Action. This August gathering of the affected people of LBDO got tremendous response from all over the Pakistan and international collaborators/supporters for solidarity action. It has been about ten years for the people of Badin, affectees of Left Bank Outfall Drain project for crying to protect their right to life, development and livelihood. The project was funded by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank and completed with the cost of $ 1000 million. The poor country like Pakistan have to return back the loan and also bear the economic cost of the project which includes loss of agriculture land due to sea intrusion caused by Tidal Link, degradation of wetlands and decreasing income of fishermen, loss of lives and damage to agriculture crops. The losses are also in billions but no body bothers to calculate.

The donors are not taking the responsibility of the mess they have created by providing money and advice. The elite class dominates the state in Pakistan and responsible state institutions are highly corrupt. The global bureaucracy of international banks co-opts with these corrupt institutions to trap the country in debt, promote corruption and violate fundamental human rights. The poor and powerless people for whom entire development agenda formulated are the loser in this game. The thousands of People of Badin have been pushed towards extreme poverty and have been exposed to most frequent shocks.

http://www.dailyibrat.com/March%2027,%202005/articles/art-3.htm

This article of Forum for Conflict Resolution (FCR) was published in Daily Ibrat on March 27th, 2005 and will be available on Internet through Ibrat website. This article is dealing with the following aspects.

History of protest and disaster of LBOD/NDP
What is Inspection Panel (background and history)?
Why they have postponed the visit?
Role of civil society in the projection of affected people’s case
Role of District government, legislators, Media, NGOs and other groups
What should be the next steps?

Worldwide Day of Action against Kalabagh Dam

2005-03-21T15:46:00.000+05:00

At 03:11 PM 20/03/2005 -0600, Ishaq Tunio wrote:

Friends of Indus River observe Day of Action against Kalabagh Dam

Worldwide fasts, prayers and rallies against blockage of the River Indus:

Sindhi Expatriates to World Bank, IMF and other lending agencies: Link loans, Grants and aid to Preservation of Sindh’s Livelihood and Environment.

Chicago, USA (March 14, 2005): Responding to a call by Friends of the River Indus, thousands of people including , irrigation experts, environmentalists, and human rights campaigners held rallies and meetings in London, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and 23 cities and towns in Sindh. The activities were part of the International Day of Action for Rivers called by the U.S. based International Rivers Network.

Marchers in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Badin, Mirpur Khas and 17 other towns of Sindh protested against the construction of Kalabagh Dam and Thal Canal in Pakistan. These projects would block and divert the water of Sindh. Protestors offered prayers for long life of Indus River, observed token hunger strikes and took protest rallies and organizing seminars. Protesters marched on the main streets of towns and cities in different countries, chanting slogans, “No More Dams!’, “No More Canals!,” “Water for life,” and “Save Indus, Save Sindh,” “Save Indus, Save the Environment.” The protestors asked the World Bank, IMF and other international lending agencies not to give loans to Pakistan for construction of mega-dams and canals on the Indus.

Background

Sindh, currently a province of Pakistan is located in the southeast of the country bordering to India. The 40 million Sindhis account for approximately 25% of the Pakistani population. The Indus River flows through the heart of Sindh, and the livelihood of its citizens depends on it for drinking water, irrigation, and employment.

Dam and canal projects upstream of the Indus River have created a man-made water shortage that has devastated the province of Sindh. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) describes the environmental condition of Sindh’s Indus Delta as being “on the brink of an ecological disaster.” Despite the catastrophic environmental and social consequences that additional water projects along the Indus River will bring, the Pakistani government insists on such projects. The proposed construction of the Kalabagh Dam and completion of the Thal Canal would result in massive deforestation and desertification, mangrove forest destruction, salt water intrusion, loss of coastal land, dry lakes and wetlands, and put rare and endangered species at risk of extinction.

Round-up of Activities

Washington DC USA:

Sindhis from across the mid-Atlantic marched in an noon hour event organized by the World Sindhi Institute (WSI). Khalid Hashmani, a local Sindhi leader and human rights activist, led the marchers from the Washington Post building, past Embassy Row to Dupont Circle, and then concluded at the BBC's Washington office. Participants passed out flyers and petitions to passersby along the route, increasing their awareness about the dire condition of one of the world's great rivers.

"The Indus River is our lifeblood," said Ishaq Tunio, founder of Friends of the River Indus (FOTRI). "Sindhi society evolved from the Indus, and it continues to be a part of our identity, a part of our culture, a part of our soul." Munawar Laghari, Executive Director of the World Sindhi Institute (WSI) added, "We stand here proud to be Sindhis and Sindhi-Americans. Although we no longer drink Indus River water, swim in its shallows, or enjoy the soft breeze from its shores, we can ensure that it remains there for our family and friends, and future generations, to do so."

Los Angeles USA:

World Sindhi Congress (WSC) hosted a seminar entitled, "Indus River Water Mismanagement Crisis." Speakers included Dr. Saghir Shaikh, Chairman WSC, Hassan Mujtaba, an exiled freelance journalist who writes for BBC and other international media, and Irshad Kazi representing the Sindhi Association of North America.

Dr. Shaikh’s multi-media presentation highlighted the findings of the World Commission on Dams regarding the fallacies of building of the mega-dams. We are proud to be part of the global community celebrating the March 14th as an International Day of Action against Dams, and for Rivers” Dr Shaikh added. He ended with a quote of Kenyan Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai: “Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come.”

Hassan Mujtaba in his paper title “Saga of Indus: Past, Present and Future,” said that “Nations celebrate their rivers, and many of them worship them… Sindhis have special connection with the River Indus.” He added, There would be defeat of peaceful and secular civilization in South Asia if Sindhis lost their legitimate, non-violent struggle for their right to waters of the Indus.” Irshad Kazi presented a summary of technical, political and historical reasons against the Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal Canal.

LONDON ( UK ):

In London, World Sindhi Congress ( WSC) staged a peaceful protest rally in Parliament Square in Central London, in front of the UK Parliament House of Commons under the leadership of WSC, Europe Organizer Suraiya Makhdoom.

The rally was attended by Sindhis all over the UK and others supporters of healthy rivers. The protesters were holding banners and raised slogans condemning Pakistan’s anti-environmental polices affecting peoples of Sindh and Balochistan. The protestors also demanded an end to the persecution and killing of Sindhi and Baloch human rights activists, and condemned the Pakistani military dictatorship for its development and proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Ms Suraiya Makhdoom, the UK and Europe Organizer of WSC in her speech said that “More than 90% of 40 million Sindhi people are dependent on the Indus River. Along with the survival of the Sindhi people, the survival of hundreds of species of birds and mammals is now endangered because Pakistan has built several mega-dams and barrages upstream that have impeded the flow of the Indus River and its tributaries to Sindh.”

Others who spoke on the occasion were Dr. Haleem Bhatti, and Ms. Hafeezan Talpur of World Sindhi Congress and Mr. Kadir Jatoi of the World Sindhi Institute. The speakers asked for international support in resolving this issue, and urged the nations that provide Pakistan economic assistance to condition such aid on improvement of human rights conditions of the minority nations of Pakistan. After the speeches, the protesters marched peacefully around the Parliament Square carrying banners, chanting slogans and distributing leaflets.

See Attachment for Resolutions passed, city-wise details of The Day of Action for Rivers and against Kalabagh dam observed and background information about, Sindh, Kalabagh Dam and Indus River.

Sindh, Pakistan

Sukkur:

A protest rally started from Sukkur Press Club and marched towards Sadh Belo, an island that has been sacred for Sindhis since ancient times. Protesters fasted on the banks of the Indus near Dhobi Ghaat, and then moved to offer prayers for the river at Sadh Belo. A ceremonial offering of flowers was made to the River Indus. The event was organized by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) Sukkur under the leadership of Sattar Zangecho.

Larkana:

A protest rally and fast was observed. The event was led by JSQM leader Maqsood Quraishi, activist Sudheer Tunio, and Awami Tahreek leader Dr Zulfiqar Rahujo.

Hyderabad:

Highlighting the extent of water blockage, Awami Tahreek and Sindh Water Committee activists headed by veteran politcal leader Rasool Bux Palijo staged a sit-in near Jamshoro on the dry bed of the once mighty Indus. The Awami Tahreek workers were joined by Ibrar Qazi, Muzafar Sadiq Bhatti advocate, Ayaz Lateef Palijo advocate and human rights activist, Nazeer Memon, Member of Sindh Provincial Assembly Sassui Palijo, Wishnoo Mal and other water experts and community leaders. Afterwards the rally moved towards Husainabad where under the leadership of Sayed Qaim Ali Shah, President Pakistan Peoples Party, Member Sindh Assembly and former chief minister of Sindh, PPP leaders and workers staged another sit-in near Gudoo Chowk.

Hyderabad City:

Another sit-in was staged at Press Club Hyderabad by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) under the leadership of Abdul Wahid Areesar and Dr Niaz Kalani. A fast was observed and a protest rally held. The Sindhi nationalist leaders appealed to the world community to join their united struggle against proposed construction of Kalabagh Dam and Thal canal.

Badin: Mirpur Khas , Dadu, Ratodero and other towns of Sindh: JSQM workers observed token fast and staged protest rallies to demand that Pakistan stop plans for building Kalabagh Dam and stop the construction of Thal canal.

Karachi:

A big protest rally was taken out and sit-in was staged in front of Karachi Press Club by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz ( JSQM ) under leadership of its Chairman Bashir Khan Quraishi.. About two thousand people observed a fast and offered prayers for the long life of Indus River. The sit-in and protest rally was joined by Asif Qazi, a member of the organizing committee for Friends of the Indus River.

Another sit-in in front of Karachi Press club was staged under the leadership of Awami Tahreek leader Noor Nabi Rahujo about 100 women and 30 children observed token fast with hundreds of Awami Tahreek workers.

Contact : Ishaq Tunio Itunio@hotmail.com, fotri_org@yahoo.com (Visit www.kalabaghdam.org www.friendsoftheriverindus.org ( for details).

14 March anti-dam protests in Sindh

2005-03-15T01:52:00.000+05:00

From: Ishaq Tunio

Day of Action against Kalabagh Dam and Thal canal in Pakistan

Friends of Indus River, observe hunger strike, offer prayers and take protest rallies, Demand World Bank and other lending agencies not to give loans to Pakistan mega dams and canals.

Latest: updated by 6:00 am USA Eastern Standard time.

Responding to the call of Friends of the River Indus thousands of people including environmentalists, irrigation experts, human rights activists, supporters of water rights, political parties leaders and activists, elected representatives, students and pro-river and lakes groups including women, children in Karachi, Hyderabad, , Sukkur, Larkana, Badin, Mirpur Khas and other towns of Sindh observed 14the March , as Day of Action against construction of Kalabagh Dam and Thal Canal in Pakistan, offering prayers for long life of Indus River, observed token hunger strikes and took protest rallies. Protesters were chanting slogans NO DAMS and Canals on The Indus River, Water for life , and save Indus save Sindh, save Indus save Environment, and demanded World Bank and other lending agencies not to give loans to Pakistan for construction of mega dams and canals on Indus River. Protesters ask international organizations to help stop the controversial projects in Pakistan putting pressure on Government of Pakistan and World Bank and other lending agencies.

14th March , 2005 Marks the eighth annual International Day of Action for Rivers sponsored by the International Rivers Network (IRN).

Sukkur: Protest rally was taken out from Sukkur Press Club while marching towards Sadh Belo ( a sacred religious place of Hindu religion ) protesters observed token hunger strike near Dhobi Ghaat for one hour and then moved to offer prayers at Sadh Beloo. The event was organized by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) Sukkur led by Sattar Zangecho JSQM Sukkur Organizer. At the Indus River near Sadh Beloo flowers were dropped in the River Indus and prayers were offered for long life of Indus River.

Larkana: A protest rally was taken out and then token hunger strike was observed. Rally was led by JSQM leader Maqsood Quraishi and Awami Tahreek leaders.

Hyderabad: The exceptional show was staged in Hyderabad in the middle of the downstream of Indus river at Jamshoro where Awami Tahreek and Sindh Water Committee activists headed by 77 years nationalist leader Rasool Bux Palijo staged a sit-in. The Awami Tahreek workers were joined by Muzafar Sadiq Bahtti advocate, Nazeer Memon, Sassui Palijo MPA Sindh Assembly, Wishnoo Mal and other water experts and community leaders. Thereafter the rally moved towards Husainabad where under the leadership of Sayed Qaim Ali Shah, other PPP workers also staged another sit-in near Gudoo Chowk.

At Hyderabad City: Another sit-in was staged at Press Club Hyderabad by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM ) under the leadership of Abdul Wahid Areesar and Dr Niaz Kalani. The sindhi leadership has appealed the world community to join their united struggle against proposed Kalabagh Mega Dam and canals on Indus.

Badin: Mirpur Khas , Dadu and other towns JSQM workers observed token hunger strike and took out protest rallies and demanded government of Pakistan to stop the Kalabagh Dam and Thal canal project .

Karachi: protest, hunger strike and prayers are going on . Thousands of workers under leadership of JSQM chairman Bashir Khan Quraishi and Asif Qazi Member organizing Committee, Friends of Indus River are observing the day of action for rivers in front of Karachi Press Club.

Another sit-in in front of Karachi Press club is going on under the leadership of Awami Tahreek leader Noor Nabi Rahujo about 100 women and children are participating with Awami Tahreek workers.

__

"src" wrote: Anti Dam & Rivers Action Day observed in Sindh... Long March Continues

Musharaf waze kar....Ailaan, Dam Khapey......Ya Pakistan??

Today thousands of workers of Awami Tahreek and other parties observed the International Day of Action for Rivers in Sindh. Supporters of water rights and activists of different political parties including Sindh Waters Committee, Awami Tahreek, Anti Greater Thal Canal & Kalabagh Dam Forum, Sindhiani

Tahreek, Pakistan Peoples Party, Taraqi Pasand PArty, Jeay Sindh observed 14th March as the day of resistance against Kalabagh Dam at Hyderabad, Karachi, Sukkur, Larkana, Badin and other cities in Sindh ( Pakistan.). The exceptional show was staged in Hyderabad in the middle of the downstream of Indus river at Jamshoro where Awami Tahreek and Sindh Water Committee activists headed by 77 years nationalist leader Rasool Bux Palijo staged a sit-in. The Awami Tahreek workers were joined by Muzafar Sadiq Bahtti advocate, Nazeer Memon, Sassui Palijo, Wishnoo Mal and other water experts and community leaders. Thereafter the rally moved towards Husainabad where under the leadership of Sayed Qaim Ali Shah, Sassui Palijo, of PPP and other PPP workers also staged another sit-in near Gudoo Chowk. The similar sit-in was staged in Larkana and Karachi by Awami Tahreek and Sindhiani Tahreek workers, SST students and environmental, social and human rights activists. Another sit-in was staged at Press Club Hyderabad by JSQM under the leadership of Abdul

Wahid Areesar. The sindhi leadership has appealed the world community to join their united struggle against proposed Kalabagh Mega Dam and canals on Indus

On the other hand the Long March of Awami Tahreek has reached in Hyderabad district and thousands of men, women and children have completed half of their 685 kilometers long journey. During this march and unique mass moblization intiative Sindh has been observing a new mood of awakening and resistance and emotional speeches of Mr. Palijo and Sindhiani Tahreek activists are introducing new trends in the politics of Sindh. During the past fifteen days thousands of people have been chanting, "Parvez Musharaf ker Ailan.....Dam khapey ya Pakistan???" While speaking at rallies and sit-ins in different towns and cities the speakers are announcing in equivocal terms that if any individual or party would compromise on Kalabagh or any other dam / cut on Indus it will be declared traitor of Sindh and its entry in rural areas would be banned by Sindhi masses. Mr. Palijo said Gen Pervez Musharraf had failed to canvass Sindhis for construction of the Kalabagh dam, now he is in search of some betrayers, agents and dallaals.

__

Aziz Narejo wrote:

Pl also read the story in daily Dawn at: http://www.dawn.com/2005/03/14/top6.htm

No surplus water for more dams: expert

By Naveed Ahmad (The News March 14, 2005)

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has no surplus water for storing in mega dams like Kalabagh, Skardu or Bhasha as the country has been facing consistent shortfall since 1997-98.

In 28 years from 1976-77 to 2004, surplus water was available in nine years only with two cycles when it was not available in four years continuously and the last cycle of continuous seven years, said an independent analyst Idrees Rajput.

"The first and foremost requirement for a dam is surplus water availability for filling it and it is not a good cost-benefit analysis if a mega dam with an investment ranging from $5 billion to $20 billion is not filled every year," said the expert while delivering a keynote address at a conference on â€˜Financing Mega Damsâ€™ organised to mark the International Day of Action Against Dams and for Rivers, Water and Life.

The half-day conference was organised jointly by Sungi Development Foundation and Sustainable Development Policy Institute in which representative from all the water-related NGOs participated but none came from the public sector. The organisers claimed that the officials concerned were invited but they chose to stay away from civil society activities for their own reasons.

According to him, a large dam is an interference with nature and its negative impacts are due to reservoir impoundment on the upstream of the dam and due to reduced flows downstream. While the impacts of dam on ecology and biodiversity are well publicised, the seminar highlighted the social impacts pertaining to displacement of people and effect on their livelihood, health, social system and cultures.

The standard impacts of such structures are seen in reservoir area on upstream of dam, flood plains or reach from dam site up to delta and deltaic area. He said in Pakistan dams are meant for power generation or irrigation, or both.

"It is not a sustainable system if irrigation is intermittent i.e. in one year it is there and in next year it is not there," he remarked while the umbrella organisation of civil society, Pakistan Network for Rivers, Dams and People (PNRDP), representative clapped in affirmative. The PRNDP is also a partner network of the World Commission on Dams.

Idrees Rajput analysed the availability of surplus water for mega dams with three scenarios: upstream approach, downstream approach and year-to-year basis to prove his point that the country was not able to sustain new reservoirs.

According to him, the water requirements for under-construction projects included one million acre feet (MAF) water for Kachhi Canal, 1.1 MAF for Rainee Canal, 2.5 MAF for Greater Thal Canal, 0.1 MAF for Pat Feeder extension, one MAF for Gomal Zam Dam, 2.9 MAF for Mangla Raising and 2.2 MAF for LBOD. He said this should be seen in the context of annual surplus water availability computations in post-Tarbela period (1976-77 to 2003-04).

In the year-to-year surplus water availability scenario, commitments for ongoing projects rest at 11 MAF need, Indian rights on water rivers stand at two MAF, Afghanistanâ€™s usage on Kabul is approximately 0.5 MAF and Kotri downstream must consume 10 MAF for reasonable ecological status quo.

Idrees also quoted from the Inter-government Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its report of 1996 that had forecast a reduction of Indus flow to the extent of 43 per cent while in its 2001 report again it has forecast less rains in summer and more rains in winter.

Sarwar Bari explained the context in which the discussion of construction and financing of mega dams should be held in Pakistan. The participants of the conference regarded the recent announcements by the government officials regarding construction of dams, second Indus Basin development plan, draft water policy and water vision 2025. "It is believed that all these national decision-making instruments lack proper public consultation, transparency and consent from the people of Pakistan," said a final statement from the NGOsâ€™ body.

The conference claimed the political leaders of smaller provinces, experts and civil society widely share the view that enough water is not available for optimum utilisation of existing dams.

The construction of new dams would require huge capital costs in a capital scarce country without achieving the optimal return. The less frequency of floods and non-availability of water to fill the dams would yield lower benefits than costs, the participants observed.

The meeting also highlighted the environmental costs including downstream costs of dams have never been internalised and estimated by the planners. "The false assumption that flow of water downstream Kotri is unnecessary has forced more than half million people to poverty, starvation and migration," the moot agreed.

The meting suggested that instead of the restoration of environmental disaster at Indus Delta, the announcement of new dam would add to problems of the people of Indus Delta and its environment.

There PRNDP observed that the current paradigm of water resources development has already displaced more than half million people in the project including Tarbela, Mangla, Indus Delta, RBOD, LBOD, Chotiari, Manchar, Chashma and would displace same number in case of construction of Kalabagh Dam, Mirani Dam, Rainee Canal, Kachhi Canal, GTC and other projects envisaged in vision 2025

The meeting largely attended by the NGOs and media persons recommend that in all the current or upcoming projects, the effective participation of local communities should be ensured. Before launching any such scheme, public consultation should be carried out and consensus developed.

The conference also suggested that water should be considered a right and in design of any mega project, peopleâ€™s basic rights of livelihood and development should be addressed. "The foreign loan creates debt burden on the country, which further reduces the options available with government for providing social services to the poor," the civil society body opined.

(Courtesy The News March 14, 2005)

Punjab to suffer losses due to KBD! What?

2005-03-12T21:20:00.000+05:00

By Idris Rajput (Former Provincial Secretary Irrigation, Government of Sindh, and Member of IRSA from Sindh Province)

Translated By Mushtaque Rajpar (for those who cannot understand Sindhi)

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, in his recent address to a public meeting in Noshehra, NWFP Province, said that in order to meet water shortage we are going to construct Kala Bagh Dam and Bhasha Dam, but first we have to construct KBD. Rejecting concerns of NWFP and Sindh, Musharraf said, Dam is not going to have any negative effects on Sindh and NWFP. ‘It is a wrong impression to think that construction of the dam will damage Noshehra district of NWFP’ he insisted.

Earlier on 3rd March 2005, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, approving five-year development plan in the National Economic Council meeting, allocated Rs 360 billion for constructing Bhasha and other dams in the country.

On the other hand, opponents of Dam are leading protest marches in Sindh, PONM, an alliance of nationalist parties of Pakistan, is holding public meetings while Awami Tahreek has stared month-long protest march from Sukkur to Karachi.

Here I would like to comment on some of the issues and points raised by Gen. Musharraf, in his Noshehra speech at Public Meeting.

Musharraf claims

1 Sindh will not suffer any loss due to the construction of Kala Bagh Dam

I do not understand what ‘damage and loss’ means to our president, here are some of the points that Sindh has been saying for years against Kala Bagh Dam.

- Due the natural change of the course of river, there is no additional/surplus water in the Indus River to fill the dam, it is insane to suggest that Rs. 300 billion costing dam will be kept empty if there is no water.

- If the dam is to be filled during the water-shortage time, then whose share will be curtailed and reduced, obviously of Sindh Province.

- Dam is to store 6.1 Million Acre Feet (MAF) water, where as its discharge through canals shall be 8 MAF, that means outflow will be higher than inflow, how come Sindh is going to get any water from this dam?

- Water storage in the dam will reduce flow of water in Indus, this reduction in flow, will deprive around 0.5 Million acres of land in Kacha area (land on both banks of river) will no more be irrigated, as the sole source of irrigation of this land is sufficient flow of the river (ideally floods). It must be noted that Kacha land is best for cultivation that give higher yield as compare to other lands, most of that is under water-logging and salinity.

- Mangroves are best protection defence wall against sea-intrusion, which is also major source of food for livestock and forest species. With reduced flow of water, around 0.3 million acres of land is to be affected.

- Seafood, such as prawns and fish, will be greatly reduced due to reduced inflow into the sea.

- Reduced river water inflow in the delta region will severely damage the lives of delta community, their means of survival, such as the livestock and even sweet drinking water.

- About 0.3 million forest in Kacha area are to affected

- With reduced water-inflow in down stream Kotri to coastal area, sea is rapidly encroaching towards inland, already over 1.2 million acres of land is completely under sea, with dam at upstream sea is likely to increase its intrusion.

- Once the dam is constructed, normal flow in the river will be low, reducing its banks, and incase of flood losses will be beyond control.

- Reduced water flow in the river will negatively affect under-ground water level, consequently less cultivation on the tube wells and water pumping machines.

2 Construction of the Kala Bagh Dam is not going to make NWFP suffer losses

Contrary to the president’s assertion, NWFP will have to face these problems:

- Noshehra district will drown in water

- Irrigated lands will get affected with salinity and will turn into barren, especially of the districts that are nearer to dam’s site.

- It will be hard to continue Mardan Scarpe

- A huge number of the people are to be displaced from areas nearer to the dam

Are these not the damages and losses which the Sindh and Frontier will suffer?

3) Of negative affects on Punjab of dam!

Punjab is so restless to construct the dam that its provincial assembly passed resolution favoring the construction of the dam.

President Musharraf, during his visit and pubic meeting in Sialkot, told to the people that very soon he would tell people good news of constructing Kala Bagh Dam.

- According to the Pakistan’s constitution, Punjab will get royalty from the electricity generation from this dam.

- On the left side of the bank, a canal is proposed to be constructed to irrigate estimated (2,87,310 acres of land) two lacks eighty seven thousand and three hundred ten acres of land. That canal will supply irrigation water on the upper side of Rasool Barrage, and northern areas of Punjab will get water from Indus River.

- All the construction contracts are most likely to go to residents of Punjab province, large-scale employment generation will also benefit to local people of Punjab.

- After the completion of the dam, official staff would be required to run the project, naturally all these jobs will go to the people of Punjab.

- Dams are like lakes, which are good source of fishing that benefit too will go to Punjab.

Despite all these benefits that the construction of the dam will give to people of Punjab, it is very strange to hear from General Pervez Musharraf that Punjab will suffer losses from the construction of the dam, or may be we are unable to understand ‘the losses’ to be suffered by Punjab!

(Published in Sindhi Daily Kawish, Hyderabad, March 11, 2005)

Dams and Unjust World Bank

2005-02-07T11:32:00.000+05:00

At 02:00 PM 05/02/2005 -0800, Mansoor Hallaj wrote:

The Pakistani Military {Non-Represntative Government} Musharraf Government has approached an equally unjust and non-representative body i.e. The World Bank to play a part of arbiter in Baglihar Dam Dispute with India. The same World Bank and IMF had appreciated the Provincial Budget presented by the MMA {Religious Parties Alliance in NWFP Pakistan} govt in NWFP. But the very same Organizations are always criticised by the Ignorant Mullahs and their rowdy supporters for lending their hatchetmen Dr. Ishrat Hussain {Governor State Bank Pakistan} and Mr. Shaukat Aziz {Prime Minister Pakistan} who are implementing the Ruthless Refroms of the World Bank and IMF e.g. Privatization, Golden Handshake, Restructuring, Downsizing, and Forced Retirment and removing subsidies from essentials. The Government of Pakistan also getting support for the Kalabagh Dam against which the three elected Provincial Assemblies Sindh, Baluchistan and NWFP had passed resolutions but in vain.

Tell me who should Sindh, Baluchistan and NWFP approach for justice as WB and IMF have already been occupied by the government. Read a report below on World Bank Injustices all over the World.

Mansoor Bin Al Hallaj.

World Bank criticizes itself By Emad Mekay

WASHINGTON - Activists are urging the World Bank to adopt recommendations made in an internal report that strongly criticizes the Bank's global operations and calls for major changes. The World Bank's Operations Evaluation Department (OED), the independent auditor within the bank, said in a report released late last month - but which received little media attention - that the institution needs to improve its project selection process and global portfolio.

It also urged the giant lender to exercise better governance and management of individual programs. The report, "The World Bank's Approach to Global Programs", says the Bank's strategy is "poorly defined" and that the voices of developing countries remain "inadequately represented", adding that there is a pressing need for independent global program supervision.

Activists who have long criticized the Bank for being dominated by the world's richest nations welcomed the report as validation of their concerns that the massive lender has financed development disasters in numerous countries. "I think that some of the things that the report says are long overdue and that somebody should have said them," said Aldo Caliari of the Washington-based Center of Concern. "I wasn't expecting it to go that far though."

Watchdog groups say the internal report is an invitation for the Bank to lead by example and improve its performance in several key areas, especially the decision-making process at the highest levels. "The Bank and its major shareholders should also consider how the report's recommendations apply to the governance of the World Bank itself," said Manish Bapna, executive director of the Bank Information Center, a Washington-based non-governmental organization.

Bapna said the report underscores the disconnect between developed and developing countries in addressing some of the most pressing global challenges, including representation of poor nations on the boards of the World Bank and its sister institution, the International Monetary Fund (IMF). "Unless developing countries are more actively represented in these international fora, recommendations emerging from these global programs may often fall on deaf ears," he said. "As a logical first step, a radical restructuring of the board that increases the voice and vote of developing countries at the Bank seems appropriate and long overdue."

The Operations Evaluation Department evaluation reviewed 26 of the 70 Bank-supported global programs, including Roll Back Malaria; the Global Forum for Health Research; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Global Environment Facility; and the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research, a food security initiative.

The programs have targets like the reduction of emission of ozone-depleting substances and carbon dioxide, and conservation of biodiversity. They are called "global" because they are best conducted at the international level, and complement the Bank's country-level activities.

The OED, which reports to the Bank's board of directors, found that evidence is lacking that these programs are "generating and disseminating new knowledge, building capacity, and improving donor coordination more efficiently or more effectively than Bank country programs". While acknowledging that governance and management of multi-country programs are improving, it says that unclear objectives, roles and responsibilities weaken their accountability.

The report urges the Bank to develop a financing plan for high-priority programs with donors and UN agencies and the governments of developing countries. The plan should provide "genuine global public goods" like new policies, technologies, and practices of benefit to the poor. "Focusing on the Bank's role and effectiveness in global program partnerships will allow the Bank to work with its partners to implement a global strategy and financing plan focused on sustainable poverty-reducing growth and on genuine global public goods of benefit to the poor," said Gregory K Ingram, director general of Operations Evaluation for the World Bank.

The report also reviewed the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance, the largest global free trade advocacy program. It was created to streamline the trade-related assistance delivered by the Bank and five other global agencies, including the World Trade Organization, to 49 eligible Least Developed Countries. "Currently the program focuses mainly on studies and provides a small amount of follow-up technical assistance to improve the capacity of developing countries as bridging finance until other funding materializes," notes the report.

Activists say that if these major programs are faulted, then developing countries must be especially wary of other smaller programs managed by international financial institutions. "You can imagine if the biggest trade initiative on earth has all these problems, what's left for other smaller programs," said Caliari.

The World Bank's projects have a major impact on many developing nations. The Bank manages a total portfolio of US$200 billion, including by far the largest stock of trust funds among international organizations - some $7.1 billion at the end of 2004 - of which 64% was committed for global and regional programs. Countries from the Group of Seven (G7) most industrialized nations (the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan) control the World Bank and IMF and often dictate the agenda of these institutions.

Decisions at the World Bank and IMF are made by a vote of the board of executive directors, which represents member countries. But unlike the United Nations, where each member nation has an equal vote, voting power at the World Bank and IMF is determined by the level of a nation's financial contribution. This is why the United States has roughly 20% of the vote, with the G7 holding 45%.

(Inter Press Service) http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/GB05Dj01.html

Sindh WebSite Blog: A case against Greater Thal Canal

2005-02-06T23:10:00.000+05:00

Sindh WebSite Blog: A case against Greater Thal Canal

Sindh WebSite Blog: Dams, canals & CBMs

2005-02-06T23:09:00.000+05:00

Sindh WebSite Blog: Dams, canals & CBMs

Infeasibility of the Kalabagh Dam

2004-11-13T13:49:00.000+05:00

At 05:05 PM 01/11/2004 +0000, Dr Khalid Mahmood Shouq wrote:

Infeasibility of the Kalabagh Dam

By Fateh Ullah Khan

The funny claim of Wapda that Kalabagh Dam is one of the most extensively studied projects in the world is totally refuted by more than 26 excerpts in the dam's own feasibility report prepared by the project consultants.

On the contrary, the dam is the most canvassed and publicized project in the world for which a forced consensus is being sought politically in spite of its technical infeasibility. Moreover, Wapda falsely claims that its design is well-documented and be accepted by its critics.

The most amusing design aspect of Kalabagh is that its "restricted mid-level sluicing" design concept dictated by Wapda in terms of reference (TOR) is formally declared as unwanted by the consultants. They have recommended to adopt unrestricted "low level sluicing design."

The consultants have given their honest opinion by disagreeing with its client (Wapda) stating that there is no specific method to sluice silt except "the lower the draw down level, the longer this level is maintained and the higher the flows then the more effective the sluicing will be". For proof, reference may be made to the dam KBD) main project report June 1988, page 3.8 para 3.27. The excerpt from the feasibility report is given below.

"In principle there is no specific mode of operation that must be adhered to each year in order to sluice sediment from Kalabagh but the lower the draw-down level, the longer this level is maintained and the higher the flows then the more effective the sluicing will be."

The above excerpt if technically decoded clearly suggests a barrage type structure with unrestricted low-level sluices rather than a dam with mid-level sluicing structure. Attention is again invited to another very important excerpt from the KBD Project Report 1988 page 3.5, para 3.17. It states: -

"The high sediment load carried by the Indus at Kalabagh has an important bearing on the design of Kalabagh and on the operation rules for the Reservoir. If a high proportion of sediment is trapped the storage volume will rapidly reduce with the loss of irrigation benefits derived from storage. Such sedimentation could eventually also cause unacceptable back-water effects"

This excerpt clearly means that heavy silt load carried by the Indus at Kalabagh plays vital role in selecting the type of hydraulic design for the KBD so as to avoid rapid silting, loss of storage and backwater flooding beside loss of irrigation benefits. The above excerpt therefore confirms to adopt low-level unrestricted sluicing design to cater for the evacuation of heavy and rapid silting in the Kalabagh Reservoir as the hydraulic design has an important bearing on the project and on its life span and service value. There is yet another excerpt from the main project report 1988, page 3.8 para 3.27 which states: -

"However, although drawdown is required for irrigation benefits, the lower the draw down level and the longer the sluicing period, the greater is the loss of power and energy generation".

For further proof of its infeasibility, refer to the KBD's project report June 1988, page 3.9 para 3.31, which states: -

"Chas T. Main etc considered special low-level sluices to achieve very low drawdown. In that case power generation must be discontinued. Thus economic Penalty is large". The above excerpts indicate that the KBD is neither beneficial for irrigation nor for power generation. It also shows that Kalabagh is not the suitable site for a storage dam as prefixed by WAPDA in the TOR for the consultants. It may be investigated for a barrage.

Implications: Refer to the KBD main report page 4.11 para 4.55 which emphasizes that heavy silting will take place in the 3.5 maf Attock portion of the KBD reservoir against the heavy inflow of about 90 maf of water. As KBD reservoir has the poorest CI ratio in the world, therefore it will rapidly silt up as Tarbela is fast losing its silt trap efficiency after performing 30 years of service.

The muddy Kabul River is also contributing about 110 million tons of silt equal to 0.1 maf annually in addition to 0.2 maf of silt flow from Tarbela Reservoir. Besides all above, the lurking danger of the liquefaction of 200 feet high and about 60 Km long silt island in Tarbela Reservoir would be a potential catastrophe for a down stream storage dam.

The selection and fixation of reservoir site by Wapda with the poorest CI ratio is a great mistake, as it will rapidly silt up. This is why the Kalabagh consultants have shown great concern of rapid silting in the main project report on page 3.5 para 3.17, page 4.12 para 4.57.and page 3.9 para 3.31. Few relevant excerpts are quoted below: -

I. "Upstream of Attock the flood level are sensitive to the amount of sediment so that flood risk will increase with time".

ii. "The future distribution of sediment can be predicted in general terms only and local behaviour will depend on actual sediment inflows, reservoir operation and local flow pattern".

iii. "No immediate solution for sediment management seems to be practically viable".

iv. "The high sediment load carried by the Indus at Kalabagh has an important bearing on the design of Kalabagh Dam and on the operation rules of the reservoir."

v. "In the long run the generation of power will be on run-of-river".

The above excerpts show that the dam is a very short lived project due to rapid silting like the original Sanmenxia Dam in China that was built with mid-level sluicing design and failed with in two years of its construction due to rapid silting and backwater flooding. The Chinese then rebuilt it with low level sluicing design and now its working is perfect. For proof refers to Water Supply and Management, November 5 No: 4/5 pp 351 to 361 of 1981 by Long Yuqian and Zhang Qishun.

The Chinese paper on page 357 supports the unrestricted low level sluicing design concept of the Kalabagh consultants by stating that " the sediment should only be sluiced off the reservoir by lowering the water stage during large floods. The amount of sediment sluiced from the reservoir depends upon the discharge, slope and the duration of flow."

It is surprising that Wapda has instructed the project consultants in the TOR to provide mid-level sluicing design specifically pre- selecting Kalabagh site for the dam so as to create a storage of 9.5 maf at El: 925 with free board at 940. These were the preconditions for the consultants in the TOR. They were not allowed to select a better dam site on the main stem of the Indus River where there is potential for the storage of about 80 maf of water and 40,000 MW of power generation.

These unusual and formidable conditions imposed on the consultants in the TOR by Wapda were kept secret from NWFP as it was flooding Peshawar valley and blocking its sub-surface drainage besides blocking the gateway to NWFP by imposing a wrong design. For confirmation refer to the KBD project report volume N, appendix N. An excerpt from the project report is quoted below: -

Basically design criteria were set during the initial appraisal of the scheme and development outline design. These were based on the requirements of the client through the terms of reference (TOR) or subsequent instructions."

The said instructions in the TOR seriously endangered the whole of Peshawar valley. The proof lies in the fact that the project provided 30 feet high flood protection embankments around Nowshera town, Nowshera cantonment, Akhora Khattak town and other important towns in the valley.

It also affected about 250,000 people as estimated in 1980 besides affecting 180,000 acres of land. Refer to project report volume IX, appendix. U, pages U8 to U10. Also refer to the KBD project report June 1991 page 3.35 and page 15. Again to KBD Executive Summary December 1994, page 23 and to KBD Backwater studies page 6.

On account of the above reasons, the Irsa rejected the hydraulic design of Kalabagh Dam under the Irsa Act with 4:1 majority on 22.10.1996, as the project's hydraulic design was infeasible in the light of para 6 of the Water Accord. After the rejection, Wapda did not file an appeal to the CCI against the decision of Irsa.

The project consultants have clearly established in the feasibility report the design criteria of "low level sluicing" for silt evacuation. Refer to KBD project main report pages 3.5, 3.8 and 3.9. Therefore the design criteria suggested by the project consultants to WAPDA is:

The lower the draw down level, the longer this level is maintained, and the higher the flows then more effective the sluicing will be."

Most unfortunately, Wapda did not agree to accept the design criteria suggested by the KBD project consultants. Wapda argued that in that case storage will be reduced and also the hydropower generation. WAPDA preferred to ignore the very short life span of the dam due to rapid silting, its adverse consequences of water shortage for irrigated agriculture, the flooding of Peshawar valley besides wastage of about $ 8 billion as the cost of the project.

Moreover, there will be a delay of another 25 years for the construction of a new dam on the main stem of the Indus. Surprisingly, Wapda's second priority is the 3.3 maf Akhori Dam an off-channel reservoir already rejected by the World Bank team due to serious foundation problems. Refer to Dr Pieter Lieftnick report Vol:- I pages 269 and 292.

My suggestion to Wapda for the KBD was to adopt, "low level unrestricted sluices with high flows for longer duration." This criteria was suggested for the reasons that the bed level of the Indus River was being flattened by 145 feet (825-680) by the construction of mid-level sluicing Kalabagh Dam that would also block river flow to create storage. As a result, this will slow down the velocity flow on the up stream and drastically reduce stream power.

This will kill the effective silt carrying power of the flow with the result that silt will drop in the wide Attock portion of Kalabagh reservoir. Besides this, the duration of flow is reduced to 50 days. Moreover, another most vital factor to carry silt is of "high flows" that is essentially required to push and evacuate silt.

But this force too is drastically reduced after the diversion of 56500 cusecs of silt free water into Ghazi Barotha Power Channel and dropping its silt in Ghazi barrage pond for deposition at Attock. All silt evacuating factors like steeper slope, high discharge, long duration of flow and unrestricted sluicing at low-level are not available.

However, Wapda can built a low level unrestricted sluicing structure like barrage at the Kalabagh on emergency basis to meet water shortage and to act as balancing reservoir for adjusting and balancing irrigation and water needs. This structure will function like Chashma barrage and will have no silt problem.

Poor power generation: Wapda has falsely shown that power generation from the dam is initially 2400 MW. Actually it is only 350 MW as reported by Dr Pieter Lieftnick in Volume-I of his report. The basic reasons for low power generation are the mid-level sluicing design and the unsuitable site for the dam with the poorest CI ratio in the world. The adoption of wrong sluicing design requires emptying and refilling of the reservoir that takes about four months in a vague attempt to desilt the reservoir.

This reduces power generation by one third to1600 MW. Again, without bringing any change in the hydraulic design, the reservoir retention level for the purpose of reservoir operation is reduced from El: 925 to 915 by 10 feet in a vague attempt to avoid backwater flow and flooding in the Kabul River. This further brings down power generation to 1350 MW.

As a result of wrong mid-level sluicing design giving very low power, Wapda has adopted a cheating method by installing 1000 MW of Thermal power plant attached to the dam to support low hydropower generation from the dam. The actual power generation from the dam therefore comes to 350 MW as worked out by Dr Pieter Lieftnick. Moreover, it is further planned to double the Thermal power to 2000 MW simply to show that the dam produces power. For proof refer to the following:

1. The KBD Executive Summary, December 1984 page 28 and Exhibit-II. The construction cost of thermal station is shown.

2. The KBD Project Report June 1988, pages 4.4, 4.5 and 4.8. This excerpt reveals "The station will operate as a source of base load with Thermal power plant providing additional peak time power as required. Thermal plant will then be used to supplement the hydro- based energy to satisfy the load demand pattern.

3. The KBD main report page 4.8, paras 4.39, 4.4 and 4.1 which states that "Four 500 MW low cost Thermal plant unit have been programmed as shown on diagram No: 10 of the KBD main report.

4. The KBD project report Executive Summary October 1988, pages 41 to 45 " Backwater studies" by Binnie and Partners, Harza, PCR, NES PAK and ACE.

5. The KBD main report pages 42, 43 and 44 besides the report of Dr Pieter Lieftnick.

The writer is former Chairman of Irsa

Cyclone 03A weakens after damaging cotton, chillies crops

2004-10-04T11:01:00.000+05:00

The tropical cyclone 03A has wakened but there are still chances of rains. The crops damaged by the rain include cotton and chillies in Mirpurkhas district. The growers have demanded waiver of agriculture, dhal, abiana taxes and declaration of areas as calamity affected.

Here is how the newspaper dawn reports the cyclone and untimely rains in Sindh:
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Rain plays havoc in lower Sindh

By Dawn Report

KARACHI, Oct 3: Fishermen and farmers in Thatta spent an uneasy night as a tropical cyclone pummelled the coastal areas of Sindh in the early hours of Sunday, killing at least two men and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.

The director-general of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Dr Qamaruzzaman Chaudhry, said the cyclone 03-A which had now weakened would cause more rains in the coastal areas of Sindh on Sunday night and Monday.

"The cyclone 03-A struck the southern-most part of Sindh at around 4am after dissipating its energy. Thatta was the worst hit, where rainfall over the last 36 hours has totalled 145 millimetres, followed by Mirpurkhas (126mm) and Hyderabad (99mm)," said Dr Chaudhry.

The cyclone also wreaked havoc on the electricity network, causing prolonged power breakdowns. The PMD director-general said the cyclone also pounded the neighbouring Gujarat coast of India, adding that it now lay exhausted as a deep low pressure system, generating strong winds and causing scattered rains in Lower Sindh, especially Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Tharparkar and Mithi.

Dr Chaudhry warned fishermen against venturing out into the sea for the next 24 hours. Another official of the Met Office said the areas which received rains caused by the cyclone were Talhar (80mm), Samaro (78mm), Badin (76mm), Keti Bandar (90mm), Matli (67mm), Qasimabad (66mm), Petaro (66mm), Tando Allahyar (59mm), Tando Mohammad Khan (56mm), Diplo (56mm), Tando Bagho (55mm), Digri (54mm), K.G. Mohammad (49mm), Chhor (67mm), Matiari (47mm), Kunri (40mm), Umarkot (39mm), Hala (37mm), Mirpursakro (35mm), Karachi (35mm), Mithi (23mm), Sujawal (20mm), Jati (20mm), Shah Bandar (10mm), Pano Aqil (10mm), Rohri/Sukkur (8mm), Nawabshah (8mm), Sanghar (6mm), Ghotki (5mm).

Our Hyderabad Bureau adds: At least two persons were killed in rain-related incidents in Sanghar and Thatta. Electricity poles were uprooted in many towns due to strong winds.

The standing and harvested cotton crop has been destroyed to the extent of 70 per cent, according to some abadgars. However, the rain will have a salutary affect on banana, sugarcane and rice crops.

Our Badin correspondent adds: After a three-hour respite, heavy downpour continued on Sunday. Most people remained indoors and traffic remained thin. Low-lying localities were inundated and drains overflowed.

On the directives of the chief minister, provincial minister for population welfare Syed Ali Bux Shah held an urgent meeting with the district government to provide relief to the rain-affected people.

He also reviewed arrangements made by the district administration. About 3,000 people have sought shelter in relief camps set up in Kadhan, Seerani, Bhughra Memon, Ahmed Rajo and Golarchi.

A team consisting of director-general livestock, Dr. Baz Muhammad, director Dr Abdul Qadir, and Dr Bijar Khan Chang, EDO livestock Badin, visited the coastal area villages and established centres at Seerani, Bhughra Memon and other towns for livestock vaccination.

Our Thatta correspondent adds: Rain accompanied by high-velocity winds swept away the coverings of poultry farms, betel farms and kutcha hutments. Power breakdown in most areas of the district and disruption of phone communication have added to people's misery. Business activities remained suspended.

Our correspondent from Sanghar adds: Farmers and ginners who were caught unawares because rain at this time of the year is rare. The unpicked cotton in the fields was soaked in the rain and fell on the ground. However, sugarcane and banana orchards will benefit from the rain spell.

In Tando Adam, a few poles of the 11-KV transmission line fell due to heavy rain and winds. Power supply to the area could not be restored till the filling of this report.

Our Nawabshah correspondent adds: Rain continued in different parts of the district here on Sunday. Most roads in Nawabshah, Daur, Sakrand, Qazi Ahmed, Jam Sahib, 60-mile, Bandhi, Bucheri received rain. Most localities in Nawabshah were under knee-deep water.

Growers of Nawabshah have demanded of the Sindh government to waive dhal and agriculture tax as 70 per cent of the standing cotton crop over 150,000 acres of land in the district had been destroyed.

Information secretary, Sindh Abadgar Board, Syed Ali Mohammad Shah, Bux Ali Jamali, Haji Akhtar Rind and Fida Chandio said that the rain had destroyed about 60 per cent of standing cotton crop which was ready for picking.

Or Dadu correspondent adds: Most of areas in Dadu district face disruption of telephone, communication and transport systems for long hours.

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Cyclone 03-A may hit lower Sindh today

2004-10-03T10:01:00.000+05:00

A report from daily Times
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_3-10-2004_pg7_9

Cyclone may hit lower Sindh today

Staff Report

KARACHI: A strong intensity tropical cyclone 03-A is expected to hit the Sindh coast in the lower region of the province, the Met office said on Saturday evening.

A spokesman for the Met office said the cyclone was rising in intensity. He said the storm was moving at a velocity of 20 kilometres per hour and was heading in northeast direction. The spokesman said the storm was 325 km from Karachi and 225 km from Keti Bunder. He said there was nothing to worry about, but fishermen and residents of coastal areas had been asked to move to safe places.

Lower Sindh includes parts of Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Digri and Badin. The Met office said the coastal area of Keti Bunder would be the first to be hit by 03-A. He said the exact time of impact could not be known, adding the storm could hit Keti Bunder in the morning. ÂWe have advised the Karachi Port Trust to take preventive measures. We have told them of the intensity of the storm,Â the spokesman said. The Met office said the storm posed no serious danger to Karachi. He said the city would receive more rainfall accompanied by strong winds because of the cyclone.

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Water shortage affecting food availability

2004-09-29T16:35:00.000+05:00

At 10:47 PM 28/09/2004 -0700, Mushtaque Rajpar wrote:

Water shortage affecting food availability

By Imtiaz Ali

KARACHI- Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his PTV interview on Monday night said that pattern of climatic changes and water shortage were major factors contributing towards shortage of wheat production. He pointed out that three years ago, the country had surplus wheat, which was exported and promised to take steps for enhancing the production of the cash crop.

Meanwhile, two-day meeting of technical committee of Irsa (Indus River System Authority) on Monday ended on note of warning. It forecasted 56pc water shortage for Rabi (winter crop). It is worth mentioning that the credibility of Irsa for issuing such forecasting has been questioned. Sindh minister for irrigation Nadir Akmal Leghari on Monday told the assembly that Irsa had indicated 10pc shortfall for Kharif crop but the shortage was more serious, adding that the matter had been taken up with Irsa.

Experts feared that the water shortage for Rabi would affect wheat crop in Sindh as October is sowing month of the cash crop in the province. The water conservation requirement for Rabi is reportedly about 36.5 MAF but the availability has been estimated at around 22-24 MAF.

Wheat is the dominant Rabi crop, which accounts for about 55 per cent of the caloric intake of the population in Pakistan, as it is main staple food. The country imported wheat throughout the 1990s but the situation changed entirely in 2000 when the govt hiked the procurement price of wheat. As a result, the production increased to a record 22 million tons and Pakistan became a net exporter in 2001. It was only year when the country had exportable surplus. It is reported that the govt would import about 3 million tons wheat this year.

ÂIncreasing production of wheat through higher procurement price was not good public policy,Â according to study carried out by Nina Gera, published in ÂAsian SurveyÂ (May-June 2004), journal of California University. As such policy led to increase in food price, hurting the poor. Nina Gera, who teaches in Lahore School of Economics, pointed out that domestic production of wheat is about 80 PC of requirements, and between 1992 and 1997, 2-2.5 million tons were imported annually. During 1997 and 1998, the volume of imports totaled 4 million tons.

She also said that one disturbing aspect had emerged recently when the provincial govt resorted to movement restrictions of wheat and the accumulation of surpluses in particular districts, affecting the farmers in terms of lower prices.

Nina Gera pointed out that the country supplied food to its people at reasonable prices through a system of subsidies. However, she regretted that structural adjustment programmes such as reducing the budget deficit have resulted in the removal of subsidies on wheat and agricultural inputs. ÂThe end result has been an increase in poverty,Â Nina writes.

The issue of water shortage has already generated political heat in the Sindh province. On Monday, Sindh Assembly turned down resolution against Kalabagh Dam on technical ground but the discussion raised several issues. There was issue of dominance by influential figures in utilizing water.

The irrigation minister admitted that due to illegal water connections, the entire irrigation system was spoiled and only the rich and influential persons had been imposing their will. Nadir Leghari said that water theft was touching alarming proportions in Badin and Sukkur. In such situation, the poor farmers would be further marginalized. He promised to take strict action against such persons irrespective of their political affiliations. But it has yet to be seen as the assembly has been dominated by influential figures.

Observers opined that integrated approach was needed for tackling the water shortage, which should include control on wastage through lining of canals and land reforms. As Irsa had so far failed to resolve the issue, analysts suggest activating of Council of Common Interest (CCI), which specifically deals with complaints regarding water. The purpose of the CCI was to Âstrengthen and integrate federation and provinces, iron out their differences and provide constitutional justice to the provinces.Â

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Saline agriculture and farmer development project in Pakistan

2004-09-20T17:41:00.000+05:00

At 04:28 PM 17/09/2004 +0000, Dr Khalid Mahmood Shouq wrote:

Newsletter April 2003, Vol. 1: No. 2

EDITORIAL

As published in the first newsletter, this issue would publish all material relevant to salinity problem and associÂated environmental concerns in Pakistan and elsewhere havÂing similar problems. Particular emphasis would be given to the anecdotal accounts of successes achieved in Saline AgriÂculture Research and Development work. All relevant scientists, development manÂagers especially the Saline Agriculture project staff is welcome to forward their success stories along with pertinent photographs through e-mail or electronically stored in writable CDs. The next issue of the newsletter would appear in first week of July 2003. So your draft stories must be disÂpatched before the last week of June 2003 to the Coordination Office (Punjab) of the "Saline Agriculture Farmer ParticipaÂtory Development Project in Pakistan" located at NIAB, Faisalabad. Although, the current project has been launched on only 25000 acres of salt-affected soils in all four provinces of Pakistan, we aim at revegetation of all salt-affected soils in Pakistan in due course of time.

Thus the project would be serving farmers nationÂwide, giving scientific backing to extentionists, cooperating with scientists in line departments and development managers in all Governmental and non-Governmental agencies in PakiÂstan. Your feed back on the format and contents of newsletter is eagerly awaited so that we can make desirable improvements.

Dr. Zahoor Aslam

Message from an Eminent Scientist

Dr M. Mohsin Iqbal
Chief Scientist
Director NIAB, Faisalabad
President SSSP (2002-2003)

At present, about 6 million hectares of land are affected due to salinity/sodicity to varying degrees. The ill effects of salinity/sodicity include reduced seed germination, low water uptake by plants, salt toxicity leading to low plant productivity and in some cases death of plants. Several engineering solutions have been proposed but none has found favour with the resource poor farmers.

The concept of Biosaline Agriculture proposed by NIAB in early 70s envisages living with salinity rather than trying to eliminate it through expensive techniques. Under this concept, a succession of plants ranging from highly salt tolerant plants to salt tolerant annual crops is grown to rehabilitate the saline waste lands. NIAB has to its credit a record of extensive research work in this direction-on physiology of salt tolerance and screening of exotic and local germplasm for growing on salt affected lands. A number of national and international projects including an IAEA Interregional project have been successfully competed. Drawing on this experience, a Govt. of Pakistan funded national project has been initiated in 2002 to revegetate and utilize initially 25000 areas of salt-affected land irrigated by brackish water. The hallmark of this project is the participation of saline agriculture farmers in planning and execution of activities. With major technical back-up and some inputs made available through NIAB, the farming community is expected to be in the driver's seat to steer the project towards the cherished goal of self reliance. The farmers should avail this opportunity to show their mattle to rest of the world in sorting out their problems themselves.

News of the Past Quarter

The Next 5 Years Will Be Exciting Time For Saline Agriculture In Pakistan The Steering Committee of "Saline Agriculture Farmer Participatory Development Project in Pakistan" observed in its second meeting held at NIAB on January 13, 2003 that Saline Agriculture is the best option for rehabilitation of salt-affected soils in Pakistan. The committee hoped that through this project, all out efforts would be made for effectively combating the salinity problem in the project areas and ultimately in Pakistan as a whole. During the meeting the provincial coordinators orally presented the progress reports to the Steering Committee which thoroughly reviewed all aspects of the project and made useful suggestions. Overall the Steering Committee was pleased with the progress made so far and advised the provincial coordinators to further expedite the project activities. The Coordinator (Punjab) was advised that on his convenience he should visit all other project sites in Pakistan and assist the project staff if and where needed.

The Steering Committee concluded that "Saline Agriculture" is the most appropriate technology for combating the salinity problem in Pakistan in the present socio- economic circumstances in the country. The findings of the current project would be instructive so the next 5 years will be exciting time for Saline Agriculture in Pakistan, various agencies of Government of Pakistan and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which has been patronizing Saline Agriculture R & D programme of PAEC during the last two decades. During the last six years, through an Inter-Regional IAEA sponsored programme, PAEC has played a key role in introducing/sharing Saline Agriculture related technologies to scientists and technicians in 10 different Middle-Eastern and North African countries.

Social Mobilization, Community Development and Capacity Building for Saline Agriculture

Dr Zahoor Aslam NIAB, Faisalabad

Excessive salinity in soil/water systems was always an agricultural and socio-economic problem in Pakistan. The conventional approach for combating salinity problem involves use of excessive quantity of good quality water for leaching of salts. The last few years have been very difficultas far as irrigated agriculture in Pakistan is concerned. Rains in Pakistan and as a matter of fact in whole West and South Asia have been to its historic low due to the so-called El-Nino weather phenomenon. River water, the life line of agriculture in Pakistan has been terribly/painfully in short supply and farmers were forced to use poor quality groundwater to slake the thirst of their crops. Unfortunately farmers in Pakistan are not aware of on know-how for safely using saline water resources. A few irrigations, sometimes only two, by poor quality groundwater is sufficient for triggering land degradation and may lead to poor crop growth in many subsequent years.

PAEC in collaboration with NRSP and line departments like PARC, On- Farm Water Management and Agriculture is working on a Saline Agriculture Development project in participation of farming communities in these areas. This project is providing technical support to Saline Agriculture Farmers in conjunction with social mobilization for community development and capacity building for saline agriculture development. The facilities for vocational/technical training/information are being provided in miscellaneous ways. The farming communities would also be facilitated in their access to micro-credit from Agriculture Development Bank or Khushhali Bank in Pakistan.

Social dimensions in Saline Agriculture The project staff organized farmers into community organizations for Saline Agriculture Farmers Participatory Development Project. In-deed it is an innovative development. Following points highlights the conceptual underpinning of this component of the project.

1. Harnessing Peoples' Potential: Social Mobilization for the development work is based on the assumption that the farmers, even the most disadvantaged ones are willing to improve their land and incomes and have the potential to do so, untapped hitherto. To unleash the potential they need technical guidance and social mobilization for community development to maximize their potential.

2. No pre-conceived package: The project is a bottom-up approach. The initial dialogue with the communities has to be without a preconceived package to ascertain their own perceptions and opportunities. In this case communities identify the problem and the opportunity with reference to their experience and knowledge. Project staff tries to see it in the light of scientific knowledge. It is a problem solving approach rather than imposing the departmental package formulated at a distant place by "Naukari Pesha" people. One good example is from Toba-Shorkot site where some farmers grew wheat and used saline ground water for irrigation which degraded their soils and as a consequence wheat plants remained stunted without tillering and developed chlorosis. When they asked us for the advice, we found a high RSC in the groundwater as the main culprit. High RSC was neutralized with judicious addition of acids in tube well water. The soils became porous, wheat plants resumed normal growth and farmers had unprecedented harvests for their land this year.

3. Community organizations undertaking commercial ventures: Co-undertaking cottage agro-industry venture/corporate venture for value addition to agricultural produce in days to come by pooling poor farmers' resources is a vision of this project. In the process graduating from subsistence to commercial level. Linking up with Governmental or simply themselves becoming an alternative to much talked about "Corporate Agriculture". In this case the today community organizations would act as fore-runners of such a possibility

4. Grass root Institutions: Community organizations supported by local science teachers/students can ultimately become grass root institutions with their own "ready-to-operate" laboratoÂries/equipment for their soil and water analyses, identify the problem and provide initial technical support to fallow farmers. For the benefit of these "would be institutions" and saline agriculture farmers a series of training courses has been initiated which includes practical demonstration.

Revegetation campaign in Project Areas inaugurated/ Commenced

Dr. Mohsin Iqbal, Director NIAB was first to plant first tree on 5th February in Toba-Shorkot for inaugurating planting campaign for the proÂject sites in Punjab. The planted tree Acacia ampliceps is a highly salt tolerÂant multiÂpurpose plant, so ideal for revegetation of waste land. It is a source of forage for goats and harbours honey bee colonies in a big way because of profused flowering by this plant species. To celebrate this occasion, community members were present in a large numÂber. Drums were beaten in a state of ecstasy and flower petals were showered on the chief guest (Dr. Mohsin Iqbal, DiÂrector NIAB). In the end, a local Aalim led the prayers for the success of the Project in Pakistan.

Principles Of Using Salt-Affected Land and Brackish Groundwater

Dr Zahoor Aslam NIAB, Faisalabad

Farmers in Pakistan are not aware of safely using their saline land/water resources. The main objective of the project is dissemination of principles/technologies for sustainable use of saline land and/or water resources among farming communities and development of indigenous capacity in the project areas. While these technologies would be explained in detail in future issues of the newsletter, suffice here to narrate the following points as a rule of thumb.

1) Salt tolerant plant species (trees, shrubs, grasses) and salt tolerant varieties/cultivars of crops should be grown in saline environments. Nature has bestowed the plant kingdom a high level of genetic diversity for salt tolerance among and within species, and man can also do so to some extent, employing modern techniques. Exploiting this character the scientists have identified several such species/cultivars which remain productive at high salinities.

2) During reclamation of salt-affected soils, soil amendments must be used, if indicated by soil analysis and one must plant salt tolerant crops during this process. The cultivation of rice does help because of its ability to grow under submerged soil conditions but a better choice could be kallar grass which combines the merits of salt- tolerant plants and salt-sensitive rice.

3) The principle of using good quality water for good land and bad quality water for bad land may be strictly followed. Unfortunately, the farmers in Pakistan tend to use good quality water (if available) even on bad land and do not hesitate to use bad water on good land if good water is not available. If suitable amendments are not used, both these practices lead to soil degradation and increased sodicity hazard, soil dispersion, loss of soil structure. Soil thus may turn to be impermeable to water and air, difficult for seed bed preparation and other tillage operations. In most of the cases seeds either do not germinate or shoot does not emerge out of such soils.

4) The reclamation of salt-affected soils may take years and there are no short cuts. Use of mineral acids for dramatic reclamatory effects has its own pitfalls and demerits if not used under expert advice.

5) The principles of salt-land agronomy must be strictly observed while working in saline environments.

6) Appropriate leaching/drainage from root zone is a pre-requisite for all agricultural projects and saline agriculture is no exception.

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EU Farm Subsidies

2004-09-16T22:23:00.000+05:00

At 04:52 PM 15/09/2004 +0500, Tahir Hasnain wrote:

European subsidies
Farming in a dream world

By Devinder Sharma

It certainly is a dream world for farmers. At a time when the developing world is being forced to withdraw state-support to agriculture and farming, European farmers continue to receive huge subsidies. There is not only subsidy to attract young people to the farms, compensatory payments are provided at the time of quitting or suspending production. For those who are growing old there are retirement benefits.

A farmer couldnÂt have asked for anything more. After all, these subsidies have not to be pruned or phased out under the framework agreement of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) arrived at on July 31. These are part of the structural adjustment assistance that the farmers will continue to receive through resource retirement, investment aids and producer retirement programmes, and therefore fall under the infamous (and legally justified non-trade distorting) Âgreen boxÂ payments.
In 1999-2000, European farmers seeking retirement at the age of 55 received huge compensatory payments. Such retirement benefits totalled a whopping 793 million euros. In terms of Indian rupees, it comes to a staggering Rs 4,362-crore. In simple words, the retirement subsidy that EU provided to its farmers quitting agriculture equalled almost the total subsidy that India shells out for its 600 million farmers. India provides annually Rs 5,000-crore subsidy for agriculture, all of it indirectly in the form of cheap inputs.

It doesnÂt end here. Farm subsidies that Europe doles out to its estimated seven million farmers (in the 15 countries of the European Union before its recent enlargement) will put the Indian farm lobby to shame. All these years, Indian farmers have remained content with sops like free electricity and cheaper credit besides the availability of fertilizer and seeds at affordable prices, while their European counterparts have enjoyed set-aside provisions that provide subsidies for keeping a part of the cultivable lands fallow, and also get direct subsidy cheques (read bonus) in the name of environment protection.

No wonder, environmental subsidies in Europe are multiplying. Suddenly for reasons that are obvious Europe has begun to have too much of concern for deteriorating environment and has decided to seek farmers help in restoring the ecological balance. In reality, direct payments to farmers are now being canalised through the environment protection. These subsidies are therefore continuously on an upswing, from 4,965 million euros in 1998-99 to 5458 million euros in 1999-2000. Environment subsidies alone are more than seven times what the Indian farm sector gets as state support.

At a time when the WTO is forcing India to do away with its grain procurement system, European farmer receive guaranteed prices for cereals, maize, peas and rapeseed through the mechanism of state intervention prices. Although the price support is part of the Âamber boxÂ that has been constituted under the Agreement on Agriculture, there is no proposal to do away with the intervention prices. While the WTO treats the guaranteed prices in EU under the admissible subsidies that can be provided, the procurement prices in the developing world are considered trade-distorting and therefore have to be phased out.

India has therefore been trying to withdraw from market interventions by freezing the procurement prices and reducing the governmentÂs role in food procurement. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is being made to pull out from its primary role of food procurement and is being gradually turned into a food exporting organisation. Farmers are being left at the mercy of the markets, and the tragedy is that a majority of the Indian economists have vociferously backed the taking out of the FCI from food procurement and distribution.

In addition to the set-aside payments, European farmers receive area payments for
cereal, peas, rape seed, special area payment for maize, animal payments for dairy cows and sucker cows, and premiums for cattle slaughtering. All these subsidies form part of the Âblue boxÂ subsidies that Europe has been providing without any reduction commitments. These subsidies totalling around 19 billion euros will now be shifted gradually under the Âgreen boxÂ subsidies that have not to be reduced at all. In fact, Europe has been allowed an adequate time limit to shift these subsidies from one box to another under the July framework. These subsidies will than need to be capped at 5 per cent, which Europe will easily manage.

The entire subsidy structure is so complex that any discerning researcher can easily get lost in the maze of confusing analysis. It is therefore amazing to see the developing country negotiators accepting the subsidy reduction commitments being made by the EU and for that matter other rich and industrialised countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) without first understanding the nitty-gritty of the prevailing subsidy regime. It has already been accepted that Europe will not have to make any reduction in its annual farm subsidy bill. United States too has officially accepted that it too will not make any reduction in its farm subsidies. All it needs to do is some window dressing exercise that shifts the monumental farm payments under the notorious Farm Bill 2002 to Âblue boxÂ.

The blame however does not rest solely on the trade negotiators. Equally guilty are the mainline economists who produced a plethora of faulty analysis to establish that agriculture would gain under a free and liberalised economy that relied on the wisdom of the markets. It is now obvious that the economic analysis that was being used to promote global trade in agriculture was in fact done at the behest of the agribusiness companies who are the sole beneficiaries from the opening of the developing country markets. What happens to an estimated three billion farmers, a majority of them farming at subsistence levels, is nobodyÂs concern. #

(Devinder Sharma is a New Delhi-based food and trade policy analyst)

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Horticultural Society of Pakistan

2004-09-13T16:45:00.000+05:00

At 07:27 PM 10/09/2004 +0000, Dr Khalid Mahmood Shouq wrote:

Horticultural Society of Pakistan

Soon after Pakistan was created on 14th August 1947 everyone got busy in building it and finding out the ways of the newly country. Defense, finance, education, science, agriculture, foreign affairs and in fact there was hectic activity in all fields to find out how best the country would progress and flourish. While the basics were being attended a need was felt to make it look pretty as country has inherent beauty and glamour.

In April 1948 pioneers Mr. A K Khan (Horticulturist), Sir Harold Shoobert (Secretary Food & Agriculture Government of Pakistan) and Mr. Abdus Sattar Pirzada (Minister of Food & Agriculture Government of Pakistan) sat in Pakistan Secretariat's barrack number 16 and founded a society to generate the interest of horticulture, gardening and other nature oriented disciplines amongst the citizens and make the country more beautiful, colorful and fragrant. In this instance they called it " Pakistan Agri-Horticulture Society" and elected Sir Harold Shoobert. Mr. T D Vehra and Mr. A K Khan as its Convener, Secretary and Treasurer cum Joint Secretary respectively.

On 23rd September 1949 it was renamed as Horticultural Society of Pakistan. Then the Governor General of Pakistan was elected as Patron in Chief and Governors as Patrons. Mr. Abdus Sattar Pirzada, Sir Harold Shoobert, Mr. S G Lanewala and Mr. A K Khan were elected as its President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer cum Joint Secretary respectively. Narcissus commonly known as Nargis then the National flower of the country was adopted for logo.As the national flower of Pakistan changed from Narcissus to Jasminum grandiflorum, commonly known as "Chambeli" the H.S.P. at their golden jubilee in 1998, responded the change and came up with a new logo showing both flowers.

After establishment in 1948 and representation at first Islamic industrial exhibition in 1949 the caravan never stopped nor looked back and the first Pakistan flower, fruit and vegetable show was organized in 1950, gardening classes for gardeners in1951 and the first publication of society in the form of a magazine came out in 1952 and the same year the society made its international debut when Mr. A.K. Khan represented Pakistan in 13th International horticultural congress held at London and got elected as member of the international committee for Horticulture and Nomenclature.

The nascent society which was only five years old, in 1953 demanded land for botanical garden and meantime started in helping government agencies in converting the big parks like Burns garden, Frere Hall and Zoological garden into a botanical garden. At that period lot of new plants species were introduced by devoted members in the country.

H S P started specially designed gardening classes in 1962 for educated gents and ladies. Organized first Chrysanthemum show in 1963.In early seventies HSP started kitchen garden classes, grow more vegetables, save and plant trees campaign in school, colleges, universities and at other institutes. In eighty's H S P completed designing and planning work on Horticultural Complex and Botanical Garden at Rashid Minhas road, Karachi and also established a Garden Center in collaboration with Defence Housing Authority where all research work, classes, meetings, workshops and seminars were held.

In 1990 to update members and others, H S P start publishing a monthly newsletter, covering all aspects on gardening and horticulture nationally and internationally.

A c h i e v e m e n t s

The out come of these lively and nature oriented activities, resulted in the formation of the Horticulture Society of Pakistan Lahore in 1962,Ladies Horticultural Club in 1963, Floral Art Society in 1970 and followed by Pakistan National Rose Society Islamabad, Karachi Chapter of Ikebana International, Amateurs Gardeners Club, Ikenobo Study Group, Orchid Society of Pakistan, Bonsai Society of Pakistan and Cactus & Succulent Society of Pakistan. Not only the creation of these societies is a credit to the H.S.P these ramifications proliferated in development of some beautiful gardens and introduction of various plant verities in the country. Thousands of nurseries are doing good business, hundreds of florist shops, garden stores and trained ladies and gentlemen in all over the country maintaining decently. The hundreds of trained gardeners working in gulf raising the countries foreign reserves. Some of our members are planning to export flowers to help the exchequer through horticulture.

A c t i v i t i e s

....... The 50th flower show held in year 2001.
Organizes flower, fruit and vegetable shows, floral arrangement displays, plants exhibitions, off-season shows.
Organizes seminars, workshops and conferences.
Conduct short courses in gardening for educated ladies, gents and for gardeners.
Organizes lectures on various topics relevant to horticulture
Talk shows on radio and television.Imparts free technical advisory services.
Provides assistance to members in procuring superior quality seeds and plants.

Get the gardens of the members inspected by experts free of charge.
Provides publication of the society to the members without charge.
Published monthly newsletter.

B o o k s

The Gardener

An award winning book having comprehensive resource material for Horticultuist

The Fruits

An all season guide for fruit growers.

The plant

A made easy for gardeners, having local names, English name and Taxonomic names of local domesticated flora.

The vegetables

An all season guide for vegetable growers; a very helpful material to establish kitchen garden.

V i s i o n

The aims and objective for establishing this society was to assemble like-minded people, who can share their ideas, views, and experience on various horticulture related problems. Later on the society worked to educate masses about the subject, to develop awareness in general public and also to facilitate the nature lovers by providing technical guidance.

Botanical Garden & Horticultural Complex Karachi Pakistan

The HSP is working to establish a Botanical Garden to serve as a center of research and education. The HSP plans to see the Botanical Garden in a form of a complex offering following main features: A research center for horticultural related items like tissue culture etc

A herbal garden
A woodland garden
A classical garden
A point, which offers services to the garden lowers.
Service on offer at Botanical Garden Complex

You can join HSP, if you are an enthusiast of any discipline related to horticulture.
The HSP Organizes flower, fruit and vegetable shows.
The HSP also imparts free technical guidance and experts advice to its members.
The publication of the society is always available to its members free of charge. (subject to the availability)
The HSP also helps its members in procuring quality products and services related to horticulture.
The HSP is also conducts short courses for garden lowers etc.etc.

The Current subscription rates are:

1. Annual subscription Rs. 500.00
2. Life membership (Individual) Rs. 5,000.00
3. Life membership (Corporate) Rs.10,000.00

For application form request can be made by mail, phone ,fax, e-mail or simply by filling the feed back form.

Horticultural Society of Pakistan
1,National Bank Building,
Clifton Road, Karachi-75600.
Pakistan.

Phones: (92-21) 5832333,
(92-21) 5373738,
(92-21) 5880887.

Fax: (92-21) 5881158.

E-mail: info@hsp48.org

Web Team:-

Dr A A Quraishy
Salman K Khan akka786@yahoo.com
Rafiul Haq rafiulhaq@yahoo.com

ISSUED BY
DR KHALID MAHMOOD SHOUQ (D.V.M)

EDITOR IN CHIEF
THE VETERINARY NEWS & VIEWS [WEEKLY]
392-A, SAMANABAD FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN
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MOBLIE,92 300 6620616
92 303 6711581-82
E-MAIL:
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www.pakissan.com
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AGRICULTURAL NEWS AGENCY PAKISTAN
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MusharrafÂs politics of dams: onus is on Punjab

2004-09-05T09:32:00.000+05:00

At 04:44 PM 04/09/2004 -0700, Aziz Narejo wrote:

MusharrafÂs politics of dams: onus is on Punjab

Generals when in power have to invariably look for groups and lobbies that could be cajoled, corrupted and misled to support the regimes born on the wrong side of the blanket. The present dictator is doing nothing different. A look at his collaborators will tell the story.

Bolstered by BushÂs warmth in the aftermath of 9/11, he has roped in some allies to keep himself in power indefinitely. Military Establishment is backing him and the Armed forces are his constituency. He has thrown all the lucrative jobs to in-service and retired wardi-wallas. He has found allies in PML. Some people call it Pervez Musharraf League today but as a matter of fact, dictators have always embedded it in the past as well. The dismissed general has also found a willing ally in MQM. One doesnÂt have to wonder much why.

But still he needed some acceptability in Punjab Â the most powerful province in the country. He has finally found an issue that he thinks will provide him the required support in that province. It is the Âwater issueÂ. He is not interested in judiciousness. He simply wants to mislead the people of Punjab into believing that the Greater Thal Canal, GTC, and a couple of mega dams are in the interest of the country and he will make them happen. The underlined message is that since the GTC and dam/s will bring more water for Punjab, the people there must support the dictator.

It must be mentioned here that there have already been lobbies in Punjab that demanded the GTC and the Kalabagh Dam, KBD. But they have never succeeded as all the other provinces have been deadly against the construction of KBD and the lower riparian province never agreed to the monster GTC. Even the British rulers had rejected the GTC terming it as harmful to the lower riparian province. But the general overruling all the objections, ordered the illegal construction of the Canal without giving it a thought how dangerous it will be for the future of the country and how much disharmony and ill-will it would create.

The facts and figures say that we donÂt have enough water to fill even the present dams and reservoirs. With raising of Mangla Dam we will have another increased capacity and if we follow the recommendations of TAMS, we can turn the Tarbela Dam into a perpetual reservoir with a capacity of over 6 MAF. Please remember that TAMS is the US firm that had originally designed the Tarbela Dam.

Musharraf is also very conveniently overlooking the alternates suggested by experts that will cost a fraction of the proposed huge expenditure on mega dams and would be more beneficial. They will provide more water than the capacity of at least two new mega dams, will be less harmful to the eco system and will not create any ill-will among the provinces. I have written on these alternates on these lists. One can also find them in the essays, articles and professional reports that I posted the links to in a mail a few days back.

Friends, now the onus is on Punjab: what is dear to them? The welfare and well being of a few powerful people or the same of all the people of Pakistan? Do they want to believe in the distorted picture that the general, the military and civil officers and notables that have been allotted lands in the GTC command area and some bigoted chauvinists show to them? Or do they care for the real interests of the whole country?

I would request our friends from Punjab to please look into this very important issue in as much unbiased way as they can, study the pros and cons of these mega projects, find out their feasibility in economic, human and environmental terms and decide what is good for the country. Please see why is it that three provincial assemblies have passed several unanimous resolutions against the KBD and why is it that the lower riparian province is against the illegal construction of the GTC.

My friends the onus is on you. You have to decide if you would favor the interests of the few powerful lobbies belonging to Punjab or you would reject their mischievous plans and support a judicious water policy that will uphold the interests of all the provinces.

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From Kargill to Kalabagh Dam

2004-09-04T23:56:00.000+05:00

At 07:12 AM 04/09/2004 -0700, Javed Qazi wrote:

From Kargill to Kalabagh Dam

Read the GeneralÂs mind: in order to save his uniform he is making its
direct proportionality with Kalabagh Dam. There is news that he is planning
to have a referendum on KB Dam and if the mandate is to build the dam it
will in itself imply that General should keep the uniform so that the dam
could be build!!!!

Zia said if you want Islam, it implies I should hold the power for five
years more. This Musharraf said if you want Pakistan it meant that I
continue for five years more. This is the tale of last two referendums.

He who will say that I donÂt need Islam will be pronounced as Kafir. And he
who says I donÂt need Pakistan will be pronounced as Ghadar (renegade).
This is Pakistan which is increasingly getting immoral in its political
approach. History is the best judge and I cam well see these military
generals those who have usurped power by extra constitutional measures will
be recorded as criminals as Hitler, Stalin, Pinochet or Saddam was. And
those black sheep, those civilians also who made the nexus with them
against the common man.

This is the mind of a General who planned the Kargill fiasco , just to make
its move to make the design of that time PM be aborted of getting Pakistan
closer to India and thus in that process create the justification that Army
be curtailed and thus Pakistan like Malaysia could invest more in the people.

This general is from Commando unit of Army, the unit which is more
adventurous in its tactics and moves. He has proven to be the most
adventurous therefore of all the dictators that so for this unfortunate
country has lived with. He appears probably to put last nail in the
coffin. He appears to be most threatening to the integrity of Pakistan. He
is deliberately fueling the K B Dam Fahrenheit so that nationalist and the
voice of them come in the limelight and thus the voice of democratic forces
get dimmer, which after a little long spell of time is getting stronger and
loud. The unity of all democratic forces is speeding and strengthening and
this commando general has his own design to preempt to any movement like
MRD. (And who denies that the voice of nationalist is very genuine but at
the same time they should know with out having an alliance with democratic
forces of Pakistan their struggle for their demands, which are genuine, can
be misused). The oppressor is always shrewd and criminal; we should know
now the very mindset of these rulers.

In this mindset what we could expect form his Shoukat Aziz the chief
courtier. And then the cabinet that was sworn in a few days ago is
comprised on same old rot, to which this General made dubious before and
that was precisely the allegation that Jamali was forced to resign. Since
the same old rot is back again would any body tell me then why Jamali was
ousted?

Every general hardly scurries with the one referendum, history suggests the
second comes up very fatal. He is now 61 year old and the Army must be
feeing his burden for there is no merit to make the promotions of Generals
only those will be promoted who will prove their loyalty. And each day
passes he gets more paranoid for the dictator will always be feeling
insecure with each day passes as there is no rule to oust him, which is
normally set to put vote of no confidence for PM.

He knows well, the moment he removes his uniform the whole myth of power
that is wasted with him will completely erode with the single stroke of his
order. His mind must be therefore cooking up conspiracy theories.

The whole nation is hijacked. The whole myth of Kalabagh dam is out. He
wants to exploit it to perpetuate his hold on the power. He wants to
exploit the opinion of Punjab in support of dam and thus want to make
Punjab more isolated. He thus wants to weaken Pakistan. Hasn't previous
dictators weaken Pakistan? If yes he is rather more dangerous vis-Ã -vis his
predecessors.

From Dhaka debacle to operation in Balochistan. From Kargill to Kalabagh,
form afghan war against soviet to Taliban. To selling the nuclear tech to
al-Qaeda.

God knows when this story will end up and the new Pakistan will be written up.

The country is facing a serious drought. There is no water even for the
present operating Dams, he is thinking to build yet another. They donÂt
know that Dams do not create water but they store it. Since there is no
water for the dams we have, why they are adamant to build it. Let us we all
be clear that this Black Bagh dam is a dynamite in it materially and will
destroy the whole country.

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Sindhis welcome Benazir's stand on Kalabagh Dam

2004-09-03T14:06:00.000+05:00

It was first time that PPP's chairperson Benazir Bhutto openly stood firm against Kala Bagh Dam, eventually she has accepted concerns of the people of Sindh over the issue of Kala Bagh Dam.

Talking to first Sindhi TV channel KTNÂs CEO and editor of Daily Kawish Mr. Ali Kazi, last night, she said that PPP opposes KBD and did not support the construction of dam since it is going to reduce water share of Sindh province.

Ms Bhutto also clarified another issue regarding PPP government budget allocation for a dam during its government. She said that actually Mr. Farooq Laghari came up with a proposal of another dam called 'Indus dam', but government went into details it found it just change of a name, and its essence it remained same KBD.

She also dismissed Musharraf's assumption that construction of Dam will make more water available to provinces. A However, Ms Bhutto seemed to be in agreement with construction of carry over dam on Indus, which is again critical question in some circles of Sindh.

Chairman, Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, Mr. Qamar Zaman Shah is on record saying that " Sindh will not support any dam which is constructed after a guarantee to Sindh that it will not be used for irrigation purposes, he said, Sindh would accept only natural guarantee, not paper guarantee.

Well, it seems now quite clear that PPP has departed from its earlier vague stand on construction of dam, as we know that the party used to support dam in Punjab while oppose in Sindh, and always sought a consensus, though when three out of four provinces of the country have rejected KBD, there is no logic to still wait and seek refuge in so called consensus.

One feels delighted and burden bit lightened with MBB open and clear stand now on issue of life and death for people of Sindh.

We welcome this position.

Mushtaque Rajpar
Karachi.

Sent to: sindh-politics@yahoogroups.com
From: Mushtaque Rajpar
List-subscribe: sindh-politics-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 23:55:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [sindh-politics] We welcome Benazir's stand on Kala Bagh Dam

Kalabagh dam: fabricated figures

2004-09-02T14:05:00.000+05:00

To: sindh-politics@yahoogroups.com
From: Mushtaque Rajpar
List-subscribe: mailto:sindh-politics-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 01:00:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [sindh-politics] Kalabagh dam: fabricated figures

Dear Friends

This letter is in response to letter published in Today Dawn by a Lahori,
Mr. Rafi Nasim.

Kalabagh Dam Project

Dear Editor
Daily Dawn

This has reference with a letter published in Dawn on Thursday, September
02, 2004, entitled "Kalabagh Dam project". Respecting writer's point of
view on a critical issue of constructing large dams in Pakistan, I just
like to correct his given figures regarding flow of water downstream Kotri
into the Sea, which he has presented wrong and fabricated figure of 35 MAF
water going in to the sea. Several news items, published in the mainstream
national newspapers, report above 40 per cent water shortage at Guddu
barrage and Sukkur barrage, how come 35 MAF flows down stream Kotri
barrage? If such a quantum of water flows to sea, why would 2 million acres
of land have come under sea intrusion, and loss of sea mangroves in last 14
years? As a matter of fact we know that there is no water for drinking in
rural and urban areas, how come IRSA became so generous to release 35 MAF
to sea?

Under 1991 Water, Government was bound to conduct a study to determine the
quantum of water to be released downstream Kotri, but unfortunately a 14
years have passed nothing was done, whereas a more a expensive and
controversial Greater Thal Canal's construction was initiated two years ago
costing Rs. 30 billions. Though last month, World Bank, in its latest
report on water projects in Pakistan, has questioned the viability of these
projects, but government turned a deaf ear to the report?

There is misperception in some pro-large-dams circles that only politicians
in Sindh and NWFP oppose the construction of large dams.

People, who oppose construction of large dams, for well-known reasons, are
often blamed for lack of consensus. This is not correct to say that only
politicians in Sindh and NWFP oppose large dams, and that they are to be
blamed for lack of or delay in so called consensus. A considerable number
of irrigation engineers and water experts, along with environmentalists,
have been opposing the construction of large dams in country. Late Mr.
Abdul Rasool Memon, (mind you neither politician nor a landlord), former
chairman of Indus River Authority System (IRSA), questioned the assumed
additional water availability for storage in any dam. He was deprived of
being member of Sindh province in IRSA by a hasty and unnecessary amendment
by former President Farooq Laghari in age limit for IRSA members, putting
age limit to 60 years for a person to be member or chairman of the
authority. Eng. A.N.G. Abbasi, former chief engineer and sitting chairman
of Technical Committee on Water Resources, which is functioning under
Ministry of Power and Water, is known opponent of large dams.

Mr. Abbasi, along with panel of engineers, presented a well-researched
document on historical flow of water in Indus River, that research paper
was funded and published by 'The Reformers', headed by Senator Nisar A.
Memon, then chairman of The Reformers. Senator Memon is now part of ruling
MPL, this writer happened to work with The Reformers (The Reformers was
inaugurated by our late intellectual Iqbal Ahmad, how wrong late Iqbal
Ahmad was in his judgment about The Reformers that it would work for a
genuine reform in country not ending up first as a B-team of General
Musharraf and then joining the ranks of establishment-patronized PML), and
witnessed to staunch opposition of Mr. Memon and Water Committee of The
Reformers, who presented a well-researched document on 'Water Resources in
Pakistan'.

If government has been serious in seeking consensus (not manufacturing and
forcing consensus) on any dam, why it took a year in setting the term and
rules of working of 'Technical Committee on Water Resources' (established
by non else than president Pervez Musharraf himself) If water resources
issue is not be tackled as a political one, why Gen. Pervez Musharraf keeps
on issuing statements on his every visit to Sindh province? Why not to wait
till duly authorized Technical Committee takes into consideration various
reports on water availability. This is a very serious issue to first
determine the exact and correct available water in Indus before going to
construct a 600 billion-mega dam? Independent water experts and engineers
have questioned WAPDA's data regarding additional water in Indus presented.
At a time when, we come across almost every week that existing dams are
reaching to dead level due to shortage of water.

Politics and politicians are being made escape-goat for Government's
failure in achieving consensus on construction of large dams and its
refusal to accept the two federating units collective 'No' to Kala Bagh Dam.

Mushtaque Rajpar
Badar Commercial, DHA, Karachi

Referendum on large dams

2004-09-02T14:01:00.000+05:00

To:sindh-politics@yahoogroups.com
From: Zulfiqar Halepoto
List-subscribe: mailto:sindh-politics-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 21:53:59 -0700 (PDT)

Dear All

Here is an alarming news. General Musharraf is advised by his VISIONARY aids to go for a referendum. He wants to make the construction of dams conditional with him in uniform through a referendum.

PPPP suspects that by exploiting the sentiments and the majority of Punjab, present regime is planning a Âone head one voteÂ referendum on Kalabagh dam and later on that vote will be conditional to support Musharraf in uniform to build the dams.

All the progressive forces, political parties and civil society are of the opinion that let the peopleÂs representative deliver the goods. Let the actual stakeholders have a country wide dialogue on it. Ultimately they are supposed to decide the fate of the people in accordance to the Âwish and willÂ of the people of four provinces through a consensus.

But this military regime by imposing a fake democratic structure is trying to come up with a so-called consensus on the matter of large dams and later on with the support of referendum, General wants to linger on his illegitimate and unconstitutional rule.

Dear friends let us think about it and do some thing.

Regards

Zulfi

Forum for Conflict Resolution (FCR)

http://www.dawn.com/2004/09/02/nat3.htm

PPP says Musharraf has played his last card

ISLAMABAD, Sept 1: Information Secretary of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Punjab, Naveed Chaudhry has claimed that Gen Pervez Musharraf was planning a referendum on the issue of Kalabagh Dam.

Speaking at a news conference with MPA Farzana Raja, deputy information secretary Abrar Rizvi and Nazir Dhoki, the PPP leader said Gen Musharraf was planning to link the decision of the referendum with his uniform.

"Like Gen Zia conducted a referendum in the name of Islam, Gen Musharraf will conduct a similar referendum on the controversial Kalabagh Dam." He said through the referendum, the people would be asked whether they wanted the Kalabagh Dam or not. Then, he said, Gen Musharraf would claim that his uniform was necessary for the construction of the dam...

Greater Thal Canal - a mis-adventure

2004-09-01T17:15:00.000+05:00

GREATER THAL CANAL - A MIS-ADVENTURE

House No. 10, Street 17, F-8/3 Islamabad

Phone: 92-51-2264689, 2282954

www.actionaidpakistan.org

Introduction:

The Greater Thal Canal was approved by the Executive Committee of the
National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its meeting held on 28th February 2002. The
cost of the canal was estimated at Rs 28 billion. The completion period is seven
years comprising five years for Phase-I and two years for Phase-II, completion
date has been set at 30 June 2008. This may be because of the fact that the
project started a year before its approval by ECNEC.

The project announcement has been taken very alarmingly by different sections of
the society. Even the major partners of the government in water resources
development such as World Bank raised several questions on the viability of the
project. The people of the province of Sindh are asking for the legitimacy of
the project, while independent experts have questioned the social acceptance,
environmental sustainability, economic viability and technical feasibility of
the project. Local communities in Greater Thal Area are skeptical about the
outcome of 60-90 day canal project. This document provides a few critical
thoughts on Greater Thal Canal Project.

Salient Features of the Greater Thal Canal

Off-taking point and source	RD 180+222 of Chashma Jhelum Link Canal
Design Discharge at Head	8500 Cusecs
Water Allowance	3.88/1000 acres
Calculated irrigation efficiency	39.2 percent
Length of Irrigation Channels	1475 Miles
No. of Branch Canals	Four (Mankera, Chaubara, Dhingana and Nurpur)
No. of Distributaries	65
No. of Minors	29
No. of outlets	2741
Structures	137 Head and Cross Regulators, 127 Fall Structures, 546 Road Bridges
Completion time	8 years
CCA	1.5345 Million Acres
GCA	1.918 Million Acres
Land with sand dunes	40 percent of CCA
Cost at 2001 price level	Rs. 27,965 Million
Annual Recurring Cost	Rs. 144.06 million

Project Objectives:

The project aims at irrigated agriculture development of 1.5345 million acres
CCA in eastern part of the Thal Doab, which falls within the boundaries of
Bhakker, Layyah, Khushab and Jhang districts. Under the Water Accord,
allocations have been made for the Project for Kharif season only, in addition
to which surplus flood flows may also be available during monsoon. At the
ultimate development of the project the annual crop production with perennial
irrigation is estimated as 3,647, 660 tonnes. Till the time perennial supplies
are available, the project can be run with Kharif supplies augmented by surplus
flood flows for which the annual crop production will be 1,927,540 tones.
However, if supplies are limited to allocations only, total crop production will
be 1,602,247 tones only.

It is estimated that net agriculture benefits for perennial irrigation would
increase from Rs. 91.14 million in the first year after commissioning of
Stage-I, to Rs. 8,255.04 million at full development. If the project is
commissioned for Kharif supply and augmented by surplus flood flows, benefits
will increase from Rs. 38.11 million in the first year to Rs. 4900.59 million at
full development. With supplies limited to allocations only ultimate benefits
will be Rs. 4072.92 million. The project will not only result in an increase in
farm income but also the opportunities for labor will increase which will bring
prosperity to the people in the project area and thus reduce drift of people to
other areas for work.

Location

The GTC area falls within the boundaries of Bhakker, Layyah, Khushab and
Jhang districts. The northern extremity of the project area is near AdhiKot
where a head regulator for GTC has already been constructed at RD 180+222 of the
Chashma- Jhelum Link Canal (C-J link). About 14 miles south of AdhiKot the
project area boundary spreads out westward up to Jhamat shumali near Dullewala
town and eastward upto Bullo village on the bank of river Jhelum. On the west,
the project area is bounded by the command boundary of the existing Thal Canal
system and on the east by the Plain of Jhelum River from Bullo village to Gul
Imam village near Atharan Hazari. From this point onwards the eastern boundary
of the project area follows the western of Rangpur canal command. Eastern and
Western boundaries of the project area meet in the south about five miles north
of Rangpur town.

Main features of Project Area

According to PC –1 about 40% of the area is undulating, having sand dunes,
which can be leveled and brought under irrigation. The soils of the area are
predominantly coarse and moderately coarse textured and are generally free of
salinity and alkalinity. The average rainfall in the project area is around 10
inches per year. Population of the project area is quite sparse and is estimated
to be about 570,000 at present, which is spread over an area of about 3500 sq.
miles. The main occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture and cattle
grazing. Since 1980’s there is an extensive cultivation of gram as a cash crop.
The 1992 ground water survey indicates that on western periphery of the project
area depth to water table is 10-20 ft which increases eastwards and the ground
water table on the eastern side is as deep as 50 ft.

The ground water development in the project area started in the 1960’s.
However extensive development took place after 1980 to meet the growing water
requirements for irrigated agriculture. Discharge of existing tube wells in the
project area varies from 0.5 cusecs to more than 1.50 cusecs with an average of
1.1 cusecs. The growth rate of tube wells in the project area has been estimated
to be about 17 percent per annum from 1980 to 1992; where as over all growth
rate in the Punjab province is around 6 percent.

The 55% of project area land comprises well to moderately suited soils for
most of the crops whereas about 35% is poorly suited for irrigated agriculture.
The remaining 10% is not suited for growing of crops. The statistics indicate
that the number of farms in farm size 1-12.5 acres, 12.5-25 acres, and 25.0-50.0
acres and above 50 acres comes to 47, 27, 18 and 8 percent respectively and
these farms cover 15%, 24%, 28% and 33% of the project CCA. There are three most
common land tenure systems i.e. owner operated farms, owner-cum-tenant operated
farms and tenant operated farms. In the project area the distribution of the
farms under these three categories comes to 59%, 24% and 17% respectively.

The project documents proclaim that natural vegetation is minimal. But the
area is gifted with a rich bio-diversity. One can find natural vegetation even
without rainy season, however after rain it is like a green carpet. All the
Rakhs have a rich biodiversity and housing numerous species of wildlife.

Ten Reasons to Oppose Greater Thal Canal Project

1. Loopholes in National Decision Making Process

There are certain defined decision making rules for any scheme of national
interest. Following key flaws have been identified in case of GTC, those
indicate the violation of rules and non-transparency in national decision-making
process. Project was initiated:

Without prior preparation of relevant project documents such as PC-1,
feasibility studies, environmental Impact assessment.

Without prior approval of executive committee of the National Economic
Council (ECNEC)

Without prior certification from the Indus River System Authority (IRSA)- a
mandatory formality for any new irrigation project under the 1991 Water
Accord.

Without properly discussing the issues, which rose in Central Development
Working Party (CDWP) meeting of February 8,2002.

Without properly assessing the availability of flood supplies for a 60-90
days for a non-perennial canal.

Without considering the criterion of any upstream development work, and
concerns and rights of lower riparian.

Without proper consultation with relevant stakeholders both governmental
and non-governmental and local population as they have a lot of apprehensions
ranging from social, environmental to technical and political nature.

2. No water to feed existing canals

Several independent experts are agreeing that there is no enough water
available in the system for making this huge investment. Following table shows
that the Mean availability of water is 138.72 MAF, Maximum 186 .79 MAF and
Minimum 97.74 MAF. While the criterion three out of 5 year’s probability the
availability of water is 133.05 MAF and four out of 5 years (80% probability) is
124.32 MAF.

Water allocation under Water Apportionment Accord 1991	114.4 MAF
Average system losses (1940-98)	12.9 MAF
India’s authorized uses on western rivers (unutilized portion)	4.8 MAF
Outflow to sea (Water Accord Clause –7)	10 MAF
Afghanistan’s share of Kabul River	8 MAF
To raise Mangla’s capacity	3.0 MAF
LBOD Requirement	2.2
Total requirement for IBIS	155.3 MAF
Shortage: 155.3(IBIS req:)-138.72 available (Mean)	16.58 MAF

The water available in the system on an average is 138.72 MAF, the system
requirement is calculated 155.3 MAF, thus there is a shortage of 16.58 MAF as
mentioned in the table above.

Keeping in view of above table and the criterion for any new project, the
availability of water is 124 (four out of five years criterion) and 133 for
(three out of five years) criterion, but the water already required for the
system is 155.3 MAF and shortage is 16.58 MAF. It is quite clear on both of the
criteria that the average availability of water in the system is not enough to
meet existing requirements, rather it is short, that’s why the provinces are
already facing the shortages and huge reduction in outflow to downstream Kotri
to check sea intrusion. In this situation how new canals will be fed, while old
ones are dry?

3. Technically Non-Feasible

The GTC command area is very fragile ecosystem. The area is covered with sand
dunes; keeping in view the peculiar topography and current ecosystem situation,
following problems are most likely to occur:

Movement of sand dunes will create silt problem in main canal,
distributaries and water courses

Due to uneven topography, it will be hard to irrigate the command area
gravitationally; huge cost will be required to level the sand dunes.

The seepage losses will be high due to sandy soil

This project has been conceived on the assumption of availability of
floodwater, and the floodwater is available in every 5^{th year, rest of

the years the canal will run without the assumed flood water}

The rains/flood water is very erratic, thus will create several problems
including unreliable supply, in that situation farmers might lose the
investment in hope of flood water

Equitable distribution of water will be key management challenge,
previous experience in irrigated areas shows the persistent problem of tail
shortage, in the case of GTC this will be more serious problem as supplies
are just for 60-90 days.

The farmers of this area are not acquainted with irrigated agriculture,
so the proper on farm water application will be another challenge.

4. Financially unsound and economically unviable

Pakistan is a capital scarce country; in such a situation the
capital-intensive projects should be very carefully studied. There are several
serious financial/economic concerns of the experts on GTC including:

Given the sandy nature of soils, the estimated Economic Rate of Return
(ERR) for Thal Canal (18%) appears overly optimistic.

The project would add substantial burden to the already strained O&M
budget. For example, estimated annual O&M cost is Rs 141 million.

Project will require heavy investment in command area development which
has not been included in the project cost

There is a higher probability that canal will run for 60-90 days flood
water, does the huge investment of Rs. 28 billion justify for three months
of water?

Several costs of the project has been either not included or
underestimated such as private cost of future waterlogging & salinity,
colonization & command area development, loss of livelihood, disruption of
existing infrastructure, displacement and resettlement. If we add up all
these costs, the internal rate of return will be adjusted downward, which
has already been reduced to 15.7% by Central Development Working Party (CDWP)
against 18% calculated by WAPDA.

The results of economic analysis show that the project under
non-perennial water supplies is economically unviable and is sensitive to
normal benefit reduction or cost over-run.

5. Environmental Costs are high

The project documents do not recognize the negative environmental
consequences, but independent experts and local communities have shown several
serious apprehensions regarding alteration in entire landscape of the area. Most
imperative environmental issues are:

The canal seepage will cause waterlogging and salinity, thus reduce land
productivity. Similar to Chashma Jhelum Link Canal, which has degraded vast
tracts of land in same area.

Canals passing through the sandy terrain are likely to lose more water in
seepage than that passing through lands with relatively finer material. The
existing Thal Canal and Muzzafargarh Canal system have already shown this
trend.

The canal irrigated farming will require considerable changes in land use
and agricultural methods. The canal will replace the existing
environmentally sustainable and organic farming with resource-intensive
commercial agriculture and the use of chemical fertilizer & pesticide will
increase in the area.

The project area predominantly comprises sand dunes; to bring maximum
land under cultivation sand dunes will have to be leveled. However,
according to local knowledge leveling of sand dunes will disturb the
composition of soil layers, which can cause loss of soil fertility not only
in sand dunes but also in pattis (depressions).

The intensive irrigated agriculture will pose serious threat to local
flora and fauna, which are already under pressure after 1980’s due to
cultivation of grams. The elimination of plants will affect the wild life in
the area.

The canal will lead to conversion of existing wastelands, which are
presently used as pastures for animals, into agricultural land. This change
in land use pattern will not only affect in terms of habitat loss,
elimination of flora and fauna but in many ways lead to land degradation.

6. Elimination of Rakhs and Colonization

Almost each Mauza in Thal used to have a separate Rakh, according to
local communities these Rakhs (common grazing land) were developed during
British era. The landowners of that particular area contributed the land to
establish a common grazing area called Rakh. These Rakhs were
established on thousands of acres of such land and people have been using it as
a common grazing area for entire village/Mauza. For the last couple of decades,
under colonization of Thal the property of local owners (Rakh) have been
allotted to influential people on political grounds. Thus this planned resource
grabbing policy has generated inequity in control of assets.

Local people are quite skeptical after the bad colonization experience of
existing Thal canal. Out of total 24 rakhs in two tehsils (13 in Mankera
and 11 in Choubara), seven rakhs in Mankera and two in Choubara have already
been allotted while two rakhs in Choubara— Rakh Nawan Kot Jadeed, around
60 percent of which has already been allotted, and Rakh Shergarh— is under the
process of allotment under the Punjab government’s recent scheme of land for
landless tenants. There are total 15 un-allotted rakhs in both tehsils
(six in Mankera and nine in Choubara), which are under the management of the
Forest Department.

Under seven different allotment schemes, including Bhair Paal
(sheep-rearing), Sale (Auction), Colonization, Prime Minster and Governor House,
38,958 acres were at different times from 1960s to 1990s have been allotted to
3,207 allotees in Rakh Mankera, Rakh Hyderabad, Rakh Dhingana,
Rakh Gal Kala, Rakh Ganwhar Wala, Rakh Mauj Garh, Rakh Mahni
and Circle 67/ML. However, Circle 67/ML, where 9,868 acres under different
schemes were allotted, is under the command area of existing Thal Canal.
According to unofficial sources, an overwhelming majority of the beneficiaries
of these schemes are other than local people.

162,913 acres land of nine Rakhs of taluka Choubara and Mankera have
been already allotted without consulting local people who have been earning
their livelihood from these Rakhs. The same quantity of land still exists
under Rakhs and local people have a doubt that this will also be allotted
to people other than them.

The Rakhs are playing very important economic and environmental role
in the area of Greater Thal. These are not only common grazing places and
supporting livelihood of local communities but are key element in ecological
balance, as other vegetation has been cleared to grow grams. The alteration in
these areas will affect badly on the number of livestock, forests coverage and
flora & fauna, which in turn will put pressure on limited livelihood resources
of communities.

7. Improper Land Acquisitions and Inadequate Compensation

Similar to other mega development projects, GTC also requires land for right
of way. The communities have as usual reservations regarding the process of land
acquisition and compensation. Following issues have been so far identified:

There are a number of tube wells and farmers are lifting water for
irrigation. There is a year round irrigation in Thal now. Besides tube well
irrigation farmers are growing grams on retained soil moisture after rain.
But in official record the land is even not recognized as “barani”
(rain-fed). The official land classification for GTC area is “banjar
Qadeem” (chronic barren) which has lower rates than Barani.

Several hundred small farmers will just get peanut as compensation of
land, on which they are growing very valuable cash crop (gram) or using tube
well water to grow fodder and some times cotton and rice too.

According to official figures half of the farmers are owner cultivators.
In case if the GTC encroaches their entire land they will lose their single
source of livelihood and will just receive the compensation with the rate of
“banjar Qadeem”

The landowners of Mauza Paluwaan are getting Rs. 40,000/per acres,
while the market rate for the buyer of outside community is Rs. 80,000/acre.

8. How Greater Thal Supports Sustainable Livelihood?

The current livelihood pattern which is being practiced for generations
proved sustainable and catered the needs of local population as well as
contributed to national economy in the areas of livestock production, gram etc.
The simple rural way of life in Thal is not mixed with the idea of market
consumerism, heavy mechanizations and modernization. The majority of people are
happy with this style of life. Their food pattern is compatible with local
available resources. The main features of current livelihood are:

Natural vegetation, common grazing land called Rakhs and wildlife

Balanced use of bio-diversity which supports wildlife and humans

Cattle grazing and use of livestock production as a mean of cash income

Barani agriculture

Small scale subsistence agriculture through tube wells

To some extent use of forest trees to support cash income in severe need

About a quarter century ago the trend of gram cultivation has increased

The current cropping is entirely organic without any use of fertilizer and
pesticide

The canal irrigation will alter this entire pattern of livelihood. The
remaining bushes will be cleared to grow cash crops, space for cattle grazing
will be substantially reduced, and the fertilizer & pesticides will be
introduced to boost the production. This change in livelihood would generate
inequalities because:

Most likely local poor communities would lose right to land and
mechanization will negatively affect the agriculture labor.

The poor and vulnerable people will lose right to commons (Rakhs)
for cattle grazing

The private property rights will be exercised on land thus restricting
livestock mobility

The alteration in ecosystem will no more support vegetation, bio-diversity
and wild life, essential livelihood resources for the poor communities

Gradually the process will marginalize some people and make others richer

9. Un-accounted Social Disruptions

Migration

The pastoral patterns of in- and out-migration continued in Thal till the
execution of Thal Canal project in 1950s. Due to restriction on animal mobility
after the introduction of canal in western part of Thal and expansion of barani
agriculture followed by change in land tenure in eastern Thal in 1960s, the
patterns of pastoral migration got seriously affected. With the implementation
of the Greater Thal project, large-scale migration is likely to take place from
outside Thal. Local population has apprehensions regarding migration:

A large number of landowners, who sought lands in past but never settled,
along with new agricultural entrepreneurs, they will rush to the area to
settle down.

With the influx of this population, a number of new large and small
settlements are expected to develop.

This migration will change the demographic balance of the area and migrants
will be more politically powerful

The powerful people or groups when settled in Thal will use the political
clout and gradually encroach upon the resources of local people

The population transition due to migration will create a tension between
local people and migrants.

The entire lifestyle of Thal will change due to the substantial presence of
migrants, because they will bring their own values and traditions to the area.

Litigation/conflicts

The use of common land, culture of trust and vastness are key features of the
current social relations in the area of Greater Thal. These traditions have
never allowed the conflict on petty issues and litigation is very minimal. In
this era of violence and conflict the people of Greater Thal are living
peacefully. The police case or murder is big news in this area. Though this
peaceful culture has several advantages and has cemented the social ties. The
property rights avenue is very complex and weak. The land records, records of
Rakhs and other common resources are unclear. The canal irrigation and migration
may affect this peaceful relationship in several ways. There is a fear that:

The vague land rights and improper record will create several problems
which might lead to litigation

The obscure onsite marking of land, dearth of maps will cause conflict and
police interventions

The right of water, tail shortages, outlet tampering will further create
tension and also litigation, similar to other irrigated areas

The people will rush to revenue or irrigation department to obtain the
records and there is risk to manipulation of record, given the corruption
level in Pakistan.

Gender

Women and men have different roles to play, different interests to protect
and different situations to face. Any alteration and development project must
take into account these realities, but most of the projects in Pakistan are
gender blind and has widened rather than narrowed the gender gap. Greater Thal
Canal will affect and redefine the gender roles in following way:

The migration of outside population to Greater Thal Area would affect the
current living style in which women mobility is not restricted; this will
curtail the freedom of women.

The increased mobility of population, canal and revenue officials will
disturb the privacy of several villages where people live without any outer
house barrier or wall.

The shrinkage of common grazing land, reduction in livestock, clearing
remaining forests will affect overall family livelihood resources, thus
reduced income will have different distributional effects on men and women.

The costs of all adverse environmental effects including future
waterlogging and salinity, loss of biodiversity will be inequitably
distributed among men and women

The scarcity of fire wood due to the loss of existing forests will increase
women’s workload

The current status of common land when transformed into private property,
most probably men will control it, thus deny the women right to assets which
are being enjoyed in common property regime.

The reshuffling of assets and economic structures from pastoral and
subsistence agriculture to commercial agriculture and mechanization will bring
different effects for men and women, most likely will widen the gender gap.

10. Why to Irrigate Thal and undoing the beautiful work of nature

According to local folk wisdom and intellectuals the formation of Greater
Thal Area is a beautiful work of nature and it took thousand of year to complete
it. It has its own peculiar features and ecology. If you are ecologist,
conservationist, livelihood expert or activists of social justices, there is a
question to ask:

Why to irrigate Thal, Do Pakistan really needs to irrigate every inch of
available land?

Why to undo the thousand years beautiful work of nature?

These are not just poetic words but have taken into account the ecological
services these areas provide and the life they support. In addition, this
beautiful area is not just beautiful due to sand dunes and vegetation, but it
has supported and still supports the human beings with growing population
pressure without compromising sustainability. The natural balance among humans,
bio-diversity and wildlife, which is still intact to some extent are essential
element of this eco-system. What are the solutions and alternatives to maintain
this vital eco-system and achieving the livelihood and development needs of the
area without providing canal irrigation?

Following are few alternative thoughts:

Converting the entire Great Thal Area and similar areas including
Cholistan and Thar Desert into natural conservation sites

Promoting the existing economic production patterns into agro-pastoral
mode of economy

Promoting livestock production by introducing new breeds and proper
management

Promoting tourism in these areas by building restaurants and launching
publicity campaign

Subsidizing tube wells and maintaining the wise use of ground water

Proper marketing of livestock as well as agriculture products especially
grams

Promotion of small scale industry which could add value in dairy
products, agriculture and livestock (for example milk packing, production of
cheese & butter, packing of grams, processing of raw hides & skins etc)

Plantation of local species of trees and subsidizing communities till the
production of trees (10-15 years)

Investing the portion of proposed Rs. 28 billion money into education,
health and other social services

Establishing livestock dry land and forest research centers.

__

19 Auguat 2004

Posted on Sindh-Politics@yahoogroups.com
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Dear Friends
Here is one latest report on the development of Greater Thal Canal (GTC) compiled by ActionAid Pakista. ActionAid is one the reputable NGO working in advocacy, research and community based interventions and work. This report is an open challenge for civil society of Pakistan to look at the un-constitutional and illegal construction of Thal Canal and draw some strategies to move forward.How the local population and the indigenous culture, values, identification, displacement and other tragedies are happening, this report speaks by itself.

Regards

Zulfiqar Halepoto

Water issue: important links; please read before forming an opinion

2004-09-01T15:40:00.000+05:00

Water issue: important links; please read before forming an opinion

By Aziz Narejo

Pakistan is facing great many problems today. They relate to all aspects of our society. Many of them are a direct result of the absence/lack of democracy and the denial of provincial autonomy in the country.

These serious problems have all the potential to destroy all that we have. But there still is a little glimmer of hope: if the concerned people act with responsibility and try to solve the issues in a fair manner, we may be able to save some of the situation and bring peace and prosperity to the people who have seen none in their lifetimes or that of many of their earlier generations. Will we rise to the occasion?

One of the major problems facing the country is the water issue. Unjust government policies, ill-planning and ignoring a section of the population and favoring the other has brought disaster to us. It has created economic hardships for people, robbed them of their sources of livelihood, increased poverty, created disharmony among the provinces and destroyed the environment and echo system in the lower riparian province.

I request all the concerned people, the leadership and the common men and women to please rethink the policies that have been in vogue in the country, acquaint yourself with the factual positions, avoid the rhetoric and do what IS just and fair and IS seen to be just and fair.

There were times when the common folk would easily be fooled with misleading data and emotional Âword play but no longer it is possible.

The people have alternate sources of information available to them and they are actually in the know of many of the things that their masters think that they donÂt. Today they may be powerless and may not be able to match the brute powers unleashed by the unjust state but tomorrow they will. Then it may be too late for ÂyouÂ (the perpetrators of excesses) and for us (the common men and women belonging to the wronged sections of the society) to save the situation.

The generals in power today are committing fatal mistakes. They have to see the writing on the wall.

Friends, I have hurriedly collected here some links that will give you information on the water issue. I may not agree with some of the opinions expressed therein but I am forwarding all of them to you anyway. I believe that only well-informed minds can make just decisions. I request you all to please read all the aspects of this important issue that is going to affect the lives of millions of people today and tomorrow before forming an opinion on it.

With best wishes,

Aziz Narejo

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-7.htm Kalabagh Dam: Look Before Your Leap By: Engr. ANG Abbasi & Engnr. Abdul Majid Kazi

A comprehensive and must read article that gives you information on availability of water, inaccuracies, inconsistencies and shifting positions in WAPDA's computations, out flow to sea: environmental effects, justification for Kalabagh Dam to overcome effect of silting of existing reservoirs and to utilize Water Accord allocations, alternatives to hydel power generation, threat To Nowshera town, Peshawar Valley and geological aspects and the conclusions.

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-21.htm Rivers water dispute-I Making of a tragedy (Daily The News) By: Ret. Chief Engineer A. A. Musalman

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-22.htm Rivers water dispute-II Harvest of problems (Daily The News) By: Ret. Chief Engineer A. A. Musalman

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/D-8.htm Indus waters imbroglio By: Ret. Chief Engineer A. A. Musalman (The News, July 21, 2003)

http://sindh.ws/indusfarming/issues/swir.htm Irrigation expert rebuts Musharraf's mumbo-jumbo on water issue Engineer and former provincial irrigation secretary

http://www.dawn.com/2002/03/25/ebr4.htm Facts about Thal flood water canal By former Federal Water and Power Secretary, Syed Shahid Husain

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-10.htm Kalabagh Dam -- Development or disaster? A comprehensive article by Engnr. Iftikhar Ahmad, B.Eng'g (Civil), MBA (Finance), P.G. Diploma in Public Administration Peshawar

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-14.htm THE KALABAGH CONTROVERSY By: Dr. Shaheen Rafi Khan, CEESP/SDPI

http://www.sanalist.org/kharif2000riverwater.htm ÂKharif 2000 River WaterDistribution and ManagementÂ A report by Engr. A. N. G. Abbasi, Engr. Shaikh Manzoor Ahmed, Engr. Kazi Abdul Majid, Engr. Qamaruddin Sahto and President of Chamber of Agriculture, Sindh and former MNA Syed Qamar uz Zaman Shah.

It shows you how the provisions of the 1991 Water Accord were contravened and also that the shortage of water in Punjab that year was 20.4 percent while the same in Sindh was 29.9 percent. It also tells how another 6.173 MAF of water was illegally diverted through the Chashma Jhelum and Taunsa Panjnad link canals.

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-15.htm THE KALABAGH DAM ORCHESTRATION By: A.M.H Kango, former Secretary, High Powered Water Distribution Committee, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad

http://www.escribe.com/science/ifn/m2252.html Sindh Punjab water dispute 1859-2002 A comprehensive article by veteran writer, intellectual and political leader Mr. Rasool Bux Palijo

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-5.htm Kalabagh Dam: An Ecological Disaster An article by Research Scholar and Author Mr. Abrar Kazi

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-9.htm Kalabagh dam: the other view A Dawn (14 January, 2000) article by Research Scholar and Author Mr. Abrar Kazi

http://www.escribe.com/science/ifn/m165.html Kalabagh dam: in focus again By Syed Munir Husain

http://www.pakissan.com/english/issues/kalabagh.dam.shtml Kalabagh Dam needs review By: Engineer Akram Khan

http://www.hrwallingford.co.uk/downloads/projects/Tarbela%20Dam.pdf Reservoir Sediment Management: Tarbela Dam A Project Report by HR Wallingford

http://www.dams.org/docs/kbase/studies/cspkmain.pdf Tarbela Dam and related aspects of the Indus Basin, Pakistan A case study by the World Commission on Dams

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-11.htm Kalabagh: Need for Informed Debate BY ALY ERCELAWN & OMAR ASGHAR KHAN

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-1.htm DAMMING KALABAGH State vs Community, Centre vs Territory, Nation vs Federation Aly Ercelawn and Muhammad Nauman (The News, 1998)

http://www.sanalist.org/NYTIMES.htm A Province Is Dying of Thirst, and Cries Robbery By ERIK ECKHOLM (March 17, 2003 report in NY Times)

http://www.sanalist.org/River.htm A River Diverted, the Sea Rushes In By ERIK ECKHOLM (April 22, 2003, report in NY Times)

http://www.panhwar.com/Article78.htm Sindh-Punjab mistrust has long history An expert on irrigation and agriculture in Sindh, Mr. M.H. Panhwar interviewed by Mr. Anwer Pirzado (daily Star)

http://www.escribe.com/science/ifn/m2217.html Unjust Water Distribution By writer, research scholar, Anwer Pirzado

http://sindh.ws/indusfarming/issues/emita.htm Is agriculture more important than ecology? By writer, research scholar, Anwer Pirzado

http://www.escribe.com/science/ifn/m134.html Sindh, not Punjab, has primary historic rights over Sindh Darya By writer, research scholar, Anwer Pirzado

http://www.newsline.com.pk/Newsapr2002/newsbeat2.htm Floodgates of Discord By Massoud Ansari (Newsline, April 2002)

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-13.htm THE CASE AGAINST KALABAGH DAM

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-16.htm Unacceptability of the Dam By: Lt Col (R) Raees Khan Afridi

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-18.htm WATER CRISIS IN PAKISTAN An eye-opening article by FARRUKH SOHAIL GOINDI. Tells you Bhasha will be more problematic than Tarbela

http://sindh.ws/indusfarming/issues/gtc.htm Greater Thal Canal By an agriculturist and writer Mir Atta Muhammad Talpur

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-19.htm Water shortage in Sindh: causes and consequences By an agriculturist and writer Mir Atta Muhammad Talpur

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-8.htm Kalabagh Dam Political, Environmental & Humanitarian Disaster in Pakistan (8 Jul 1998) By: Research Scholar and Advocate Ayaz Latif Palijo

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/D-1.htm An Overview of the History and Impacts of the Water Issue in Pakistan A comprehensive article by: Altaf A. Memon (Ph.D)

http://www.sanalist.org/historylogiglaw.htm HISTORY, LOGIC, LAW AND POLITICS OF WATER AND INDUS BY JAVED QAZI (THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN IBRAT ON 22ND MAY 2003)

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/D-5.htm Disastrous Impacts of "Indus Link" Outfall of RBOD By Research Scholar, Sikander Brohi

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-4.htm An article on Indus Water Pollution

http://www.sindh.ws/indusfarming/issues/ttwall.htm Water Issue: Talking to the wall

Water crisis: some misconceptions http://www.dawn.com/2004/06/29/letted.htm#7

Dams, ports and NFC http://www.dawn.com/2004/05/19/letted.htm#1

Government's water policy http://www.dawn.com/2004/02/10/letted.htm#2

Unjust distribution of water http://www.dawn.com/2004/06/18/letted.htm#3

Mega water projects and Sindh http://www.dawn.com/2003/12/13/letted.htm#1

http://www.dawn.com/2004/08/01/letted.htm#1 Fallacies about dams By Manzoor Chandio

http://www.sindh.ws/indusfarming/reports/orchardchopping.htm Sad day dawns on Sindh: Sindhis start chopping their orchards! [The Star, Karachi, report]

http://www.dawn.com/2004/03/22/ebr15.htm Down stream Kotri: constitutional position By Zulfiqar Halepoto

http://www.oneworld.net/article/view/79615/1/ Water Wars: Pakistani Provinces Clash Over Mega Dam OneWorld South Asia

http://sindh.ws/indusfarming/issues/iwhuc.htm "Historic use" sharing of Indus River water (1994) is illegal and unconstitutional Clarification by ex-Senator Taj Haider

Other related articles at: http://www.escribe.com/science/ifn/index.html?by=Author&a=IFN http://www.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca/lists/html/dam-l/2000/threads.html#00376

http://www.himalmag.com/2002/july/report_4.htm Water wars: SindhÂs struggle for control of the Indus Even while the India-Pakistan treaty for sharing the Indus waters remains operational, the provinces of Pakistan are squabbling. Mostly, it is Sindh vs. Punjab. A South Asian magazine, HimalÂs special report by Hasan Mansoor

http://www.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca/lists/html/dam-l/2000/msg00376.html Kalabagh dam project - A critical view By: Engr Abdul Aziz Buriro (The Frontier Post)

http://www.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca/lists/html/dam-l/2000/msg00379.html The myth of large dams By Engr Javaid R. Leghare (The frontier Post)

http://www.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca/lists/html/dam-l/2000/msg00378.html The myth of large dams By: Engr Javaid R. Leghare (The Frontier Post)

http://www.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca/lists/html/dam-l/2000/msg00382.html DAMMING the PEOPLE of the INDUS By Aly Ercelawn (creed@awara.khi.sdnpk.undp.org), Karamat Ali (b.m.kutty@cyber.net.pk), Omar Asghar Khan (omar@oak.sdnpk.undp.org)

http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-17.htm Water Appointment Accord Apportionment of the Waters of Indus River System between the provinces

http://wrmin.nic.in/international/industreaty.htm Indus Basin Water Treaty (1960)

http://www.stimson.org/southasia/?sn=sa20020116300 Indus Water Treaty - abridged text

International Rivers Network http://www.irn.org/basics/ard/index.asp?id=BeyondDamsReport.html

World Commission on Dams http://www.dams.org/

Indus Farming Blog

2004-09-01T15:09:00.000+05:00

Indus Farming Blog has been created to (1) post messages selected from the Indus Farming email list, (2) messages and articles of urgent nature, (3) stuff which needs to be made available for those who are not subscribers of Indus Farming list and (4) to post relevant photographs and images, etc.

Indus Farming Blog

Is Kalabagh Dam feasible?

Kalabagh Dam Shocker! - Musharafs Outrageous Comments

Mammoth protest marches in Sindh

Peoples Assembly reject LBOD in Badin

Worldwide Day of Action against Kalabagh Dam

14 March anti-dam protests in Sindh

Punjab to suffer losses due to KBD! What?

Dams and Unjust World Bank

Sindh WebSite Blog: A case against Greater Thal Canal

Sindh WebSite Blog: Dams, canals & CBMs

Infeasibility of the Kalabagh Dam

Cyclone 03A weakens after damaging cotton, chillies crops

Cyclone 03-A may hit lower Sindh today

Water shortage affecting food availability

Saline agriculture and farmer development project in Pakistan

EU Farm Subsidies

Horticultural Society of Pakistan

MusharrafÂs politics of dams: onus is on Punjab

From Kargill to Kalabagh Dam

Sindhis welcome Benazir's stand on Kalabagh Dam

Kalabagh dam: fabricated figures

Referendum on large dams

Greater Thal Canal - a mis-adventure

Water issue: important links; please read before forming an opinion

Indus Farming Blog

MusharrafÂs politics of dams: onus is on Punjab