KARACHI – The residents of Achhro Thar (White Desert) are demanding the government to provide them with river water. Achhro Thar is believed to be the most backward area of Pakistan, and is often affected by droughts due to which the underground water level has dropped drastically.
During former president Pervez Musharraf’s government, Thar Desert was provided with adequate river water with the help of pipes and vast networks of roads. However, no government since then has considered developing Achhro Thar. Compared to Thar Desert, Achhro Thar has lesser vegetation with very low underground water level. Apparently, Achhro Thar has always been a lesser priority with regard to government schemes.
Located in the eastern part of Sindh and spread over 4,805 square kilometres along the Indian border in Sanghar and Khairpur districts, Achhro Thar is a unique desert with vastly scattered white sand dunes. Despite being spread over such a vast area, Achhro Thar comprises only two union councils, UC Bilawal and UC Kamil Hingorjo, with a total population of only 55,000. The residents of the area usually dig wells to acquire drinking water or make traditional tanks to collect rainwater.
However, since the past few years, annual rains have reduced in the desert due to changes in the climate. Reduced rains and over pumping of underground water in the nearby areas – not only in Pakistan, but on the other side of the border as well – has caused the water level of underground aquifers to drop drastically. The official records of various international organisations state that besides larger countries like China and India, smaller countries like Mexico, Iran and Pakistan are also facing acute water scarcity.
The Water Planning Commission’s records state that more than 80 million people across Pakistan have no access to clean water, whereas about 70 percent diseases spread across the country are waterborne in nature. Despite making commitments with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and other international and regional forums, the Pakistani government is unable to provide drinking water to half the population.
Acute water shortage has not only affected humans, but also the livestock since the area is supposed to be the hub of livestock. Most wells in this unique desert have dried recently, due to which the residents have to travel several kilometres to bring back water on camels, donkeys and other animals. Besides that, majority of the people are living below the poverty line. Therefore, it is not easy for them to migrate to the barrage area, even though it is only 30 kilometres to 50 kilometres away.
“Most people here depend on livestock, and every animal needs water besides fodder. So we have to bring water – not only for our families, but also for our animals – from remote areas, which is very time-consuming,” said Ali Ahmed Hingorjo, a resident of Sadau village. He said that after the villagers – who are already the poorest of the poor – spend a long time fetching water, they are unable to earn enough for their families.
In most cases, women have to walk several kilometres to fetch water for their families and livestock, he added. “It would be a great relief for the people of Achhro Thar if the government could install an 80-kilometre pipeline from Khipro to the border for supplying river water from the Nara canal,” said Dr Thathi Singh, the medical officer at the Sadau Basic Health Unit.
