This refers to an editorial of an English daily headlined: Will Thatta vanish? (March 21). By quoting Ms Humaira Alwani, MPA, the editorial stated Sea intrusion is taking away 80 acres of land a day, and at this rate, in just over a decade, the historical city of Thatta will have disappeared. The inundation of salt water has already meant the loss of millions of acres of fertile land, causing huge damage to the farmers. To save Indus delta, the sixth largest in the world, release of limited water was mandatory and this practice is being done to save 74 deltas throughout the world. It is saddening to note some people are terming the release of fresh water into sea as a waste despite the fact fresh water pushes back the salt water of sea intrusion.
Between Kotri downstream and Arabian Sea in Sindh (more than 100 kilometres), 2.7 million people are living who are dying from hunger and thirst but our federal government has miserably failed to get implemented Water Accord 1991 in letter and spirit that Sindh had originally accepted with reservations despite the Accord was signed 20 years back. As per the Accord, further survey was also to be conducted for release of water downstream Kotri. Nevertheless, Wapda got a survey without the involvement of Sindh that was not accepted by Sindh later on. The unnatural sad demise of Indus delta has created environmental disaster in vast areas of Sindh.
MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL
Karachi
