Indus delta is being destroyed under a deep-rooted intrigue by not releasing the required amount of water downstream
Speakers at a workshop demand ‘Personhood Rights’ for the River Indus
By Kamran Khamiso Khowaja
Thatta: The cry of dying Indus delta echoed at a workshop here Thursday in connection with International Rivers Day to be observed on March 14.
“The authorities should listen to resounding cry of Indus delta, which is being destroyed under a deep-rooted intrigue by not releasing the required amount of water downstream. The 17 creeks of the Indus delta through which the mighty river met the Arabian Sea were on the brink of destruction,” the speakers said at the workshop organized by Fisher Folk Forum at Makli Gymkhana.
Speakers representing the fishermen community, environmentalists and leaders of public opinion expressed serious concerns and resentment over the ruination of the Indus delta owing to the low discharge of freshwater downstream.
Addressing the workshop Ms. Yasmeen Shah, Environmentalist Professor Mukhtiyar Maher, Social Activist Mir Mohammad Baloch, Engineer Obhayo Khushik, Waqar- Nisa, Ayaz Lashari, Hyder Shoro and others stressed the importance of personhood rights for the River Indus in the light of international law and treaties and said that the concerned authorities should take decisive measures to protect the Indus delta from destruction.
Highlighting the environmental challenges they said that owing to inadequate inflow of freshwater sea was pocketing large scale of land in the areas of Keti Bandar and Kharochhan Talukas.
Stressing the importance of implementing the water accords and proposals presented by the senate standing committee they said that due rights should be given to the Indus river as per the water accords and required water should be released to the Indus delta or else the population of the coastal district would face ghastly consequences.
They denounced the mysterious silence of the provincial and federal governments about the issue and said they would march to Islamabad for the survival of the Indus delta and the survival of the people of the coastal region.
It was unanimously decided that a phase-wise campaign would be launched to create awareness regarding international Rivers Day and for the personhood Rights of the Indus river.
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