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Punjab’s untreated industrial waste polluting Indus River

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Punjab’s untreated industrial waste polluting Indus River
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Sindh Irrigation Minister briefs UN Provincial Team about violation of Water Accord by IRSA, federal authorities.  

Karachi

Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro told a UN delegation on Tuesday that untreated industrial water and waste is being discharged by the Punjab-based industries into the Indus River, which has resulted the environmental pollution and deterioration of ecological system in the province.

“Sedimentation is also the most serious and major problem being faced by the barrages of the Sindh province and Sukkur barrage has been affected most due to the sedimentation while it has also caused significant reduction in water volume and the flow of the water in Indus River,” this he said in meeting with a delegation of United Nations Provincial Team Sindh led by Dr. Altaf Ahmed Bhatti at his office.

Minister said that as per Water Apportionment Accord of 1991, a minimum of 10 million acre feet (MAF) water should be released to Indus Delta but Indus River System Authority (IRSA), a constitutional body established for ensuring the equal water distribution among the provinces, has failed to implement 1991 Water Accord. “Millions of acres of the agricultural land of Thatta, Sujawal and Badin districts have become barren due to sea intrusion and it has destroyed the ecosystem and also increased the displacement of people who are living in the coastal areas of these districts,” he said.

Jam Khan Shoro informed the delegation that as per the country’s water statistics and figures of twenty years, Pakistan has been facing acute water crisis but the federal government has planned to construct the projects like Chashma-Jehlum and Taunsa-Punjnad link canals on the Indus river which is sheer injustice with province of Sindh because it would create severe water shortage in the province.

He further said that Left Bank outfall Drain (LBOD) project has been causing great loss and damages in the province particularly the Mirpur Khas and Badin districts have been affected most. He added that due to worst planning of LBOD project Paran, Hakro, Sond and other natural water ways were affected badly and breaches have been occurred in them which is causing great economic loss to the province every year. “To overcome this issue, Sindh government is planning to launch a scheme of Rs.100 billion for the rehabilitation of LBOD and these natural waterways.”

United Nations Provincial Team Sindh Chief Dr. Aftab Ahmed Bhatti briefed the Provincial minister about the United Nations sustainable development cooperation framework (UNSDCF) 2023-27 in detail. (PR)

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