LARKANA: The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) has alleged that influential figures, including some feudal lords of Balochistan, have released floodwaters into Sindh by giving a cut in the Saifullah Magsi branch instead of leaving the deluge to take its natural course through Heerdain drain. The resorted to the act to save their own lands, it claimed.

The chamber’s Larkana division, in a compiled report about the widespread devastation by rains and floods in Qambar-Shahdadkot district, said that releasing Balochistan’s huge quantum of water into Hamal Lake had created a critical situation and posed threat to the 119-mile-long Flood Protective Bund (FP Bund). The chamber’s divisional president Siraj-ul-Oliya Rashdi claimed that from 1975 to 2010, the floodwater coming from Balochistan had been safely travelling through the natural route up to the Manchar Lake.

The Main Nara Valley Drain (MNVD) had the capacity of carrying 3,500 cusecs of water, but breaches caused in the FP Bund at Maro Jo Thal, Sabo Buriro and Mirpur Buriro villages deteriorated the situation, the report said.

It further led to breaches in Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) and saline channels. Quoting irrigation people, Mr Rashdi said currently floodwater sheet was stretched over 500 square miles, and if the breaches were not plugged quickly, and the stagnant water was allowed to stay for one year, it would be almost impossible for farmers to cultivate Rabi crops.

The report painting a pathetic picture of the devastation of agriculture land right from Jhal Magsi up to Sehwan and onwards, said that the gushing water had not only ruined the fertile lands, but also vanished hundreds of villages coming in its way.

Now, he said, the marooned people who lost their livestock, belongings and agriculture lands were encamped in tents and looking for help to survive.

The displaced families were also unable to bury their loved-ones, as they could not find space for burial, Mr Rashdi said.

He lamented that the Qambar-Shahdadkot administration had failed to undertake measures to rescue people and rehabilitate the badly affected union councils of Mirpur, Hamal, Gaibi Dero and other areas in the district. He said hundreds of internally displaced persons had taken shelter along the banks of Naseer Shakh (irrigation channel) from Gul Buriro village to Junani Bungalow.

He said water-borne, air-borne and vector-borne diseases including malaria had inflicted the IDPs which urgently required extraordinary steps to mitigate marooned peoples’ sufferings.

The report traced the history of constructing barrages, FP Bund and channels from MNVD to Manchhar and floodwater outlets. Mr Rashdi said the report would be submitted to the SCA, Syed Miran Muhammed Shah.

Wheat support price

Mr Rashdi, who is also organiser of the Agri Forum Sindh, in another statement said that fixing procurement price of wheat at Rs4,000 per 40kg by Sindh government would not serve the purpose of farmers’ uplift, as it would shoot up the flour prices, and feared how a daily wager would feed his family amidst the price spiral.

He said IDPs were already braving starvation in tents, and instead of extending relief to farmers in the shape of increasing procurement prices, government should think of waving off the agriculture loans. He suggested that aid coming from China should be used to provide free seeds and fertilizers to farmers.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2022