THE present government has initiated a new mega city, Zulfikarabad, in Thatta district located in the Indus Delta.

According to the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, not only conducting an environmental impact assessment of any new project is mandatory but sharing it with stakeholders through public hearing is a prerequisite. In case of Zulfikarabad, so far no such study has been seen.

The Indus Delta is a vital ecosystem of the country and has a protected status. Under local laws number of game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries had been declared in the Indus Delta, while the entire Indus Delta is a Ramseur site.

Keti Bunder, Shah Bunder and Cut Manarki Chach are declared as wildlife sanctuaries by the Sindh Wildlife Department under Section 14 of the Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1972.

The wildlife sanctuaries are under category IV of IUCN. Restrictions have been imposed on hunting, trapping, woodcutting, mining and distraction to the habitat under Section 14 of the Sindh Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1972.

However, until now no management plan has been developed for the Indus Delta.

The Indus Delta is the representative of coastal wetland ecosystem. It is formed in the result of sediment trapping of the River Indus into Arabian Sea since millions of years. Riverine tract occupies a special significance in ecology of Sindh. In ancient times, the Indus River used to flow at its own causing flooding of the vast Indus plain extending as far as up to Thar Desert in the east.

After Independence, much emphasis was given to agriculture sector development. With the expansion of agriculture more and more land was converted to farm use. Expansion of agriculture and subsequent industrial development led to the need for conserving water for agriculture purpose and power generation through construction of reservoir on the Indus and its tributaries.

The economic priorities overruled ecological consequences that were bound to follow in years to come. An intricate system of canals, barrages and reservoirs was constructed to transfer supplies from the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers to the areas formerly fed by eastern rivers, to compensate for water supplies lost to India under the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in September 1960.

Following construction of dams, scores of head works barrages and diversion canals have been constructed on the Indus and its tributaries in Pakistan from 1886 to 1993.

These constructions have affected water flow reaching Sindh. As the flows of freshwater down the Indus have decreased over the last decades, the water quality and stress upon the Indus Delta have increased.

Due to decrease in the river water flow into the delta creeks, salinity of creek waters have increased and now salt tolerant vegetation species are submerged. The freshwater used to dilute the salinity in the Indus Delta and support mangrove ecosystem and other freshwater ecological system.

The Indus Delta hydrological system forms three major wetland eco systems such as estuaries, creeks, coastal wetlands.

Hence, it is imperative that mega city project must be replaced with the Indus delta rehabilitation programme. The plan should envisage the revival of lost species, protection of environment, resettlement of people and long-term coastal zone management.

At least 10MAF water downstream Kotri barrage must be ensured immediately as agreed in 1991 water accord.

Comprehensive assessment of losses must be carried out and communities provided adequate compensation.

Coastal zone management plan should be developed in consultation and with the informed participation of local communities, which must ensure communities rights over land and resources.