THATTA, April 22: Poor planning, mismanagement and vested interest are major factors behind prevailing water crisis in Thatta district, this correspondent has learnt after gathering information from relevant quarters.

Thatta and surrounding Katchi Abadis have a population of over 70,000 which are being supplied water through 13 average size water reservoirs under the supervision of the taluka nazim.

Experts believed that if once these reservoirs were filled to full capacity water would be sufficient for at least 15 days for the population.

These reservoirs were previously filled through a 24-inch diameter pipeline, laid at a cost of Rs0.8 million a couple of years ago from Jam branch (a water tributary) up to water supply site in the town.

Technically the bed level of Jam branch is comparatively higher than the level of these reservoirs, with the result that, Thatta people faced minimum occasional water crisis.

On this water supply pipeline many tribes-Magsis, Behranis, Gahyas, and others have their lands and without naming anyone the people said these agriculturists were irrigating their lands through this pipeline from its conduits or making big holes into it and obstructing the water flow in connivance with taluka council management.

The use of inferior quality material in the construction of this costly project is said to be another reason of its destruction.

The taluka administration has also installed four high powered pumping machines at the outlets of Jam branch to overcome the water crisis if the water level in Jam branch decreased.

Out of these pumping machines, one was taken away by an influential politician for his personal agricultural use and the remaining lying at the site in worst condition.Out of three overhead water tanks of 100,000 gallons capacity each one is at Shah Ibrahim and said to be defective and non-operational, the second one constructed at Makli at a cost of Rs4.2 million about 12 years ago could not be handed over to the authority concerned, whereas the third one in Thatta is to some extent operational but cannot meet the requirements.

The people were of the view that the officials would never try to take full benefit from Jam branch water feeder, because it will hamper the vested interests who are filling their pockets in the name of pumping machines and procurement of fuel and machine parts for the alternative water supply system through Nari Chach and Nanadi Allahkhai tributaries.

The people are now compelled to purchase water on higher rates from outside Thatta through tankers and the poor are worst hit to purchase water at Rs30 per four gallon tin.

Former PPP MNA Babu Ghulam Hussain Memon said that the water shortage had also badly affected the standing crops.

He said the water flow in the Indus River in April last year was 87,000 cusecs upstream in Guddu and 72,000 at Sukkur while at Kotri it was 14,000 cusecs.

Whereas during the current month, at Guddu it is 38,000 cusecs, at Sukkur 31,000 cusecs and at Kotri it is merely 3,000 cusecs.

It is feared that in this situation, the Kharif sowing would be affected badly.

He said the Keenjhar lake which supplies 1,200 cusecs water daily to Karachi could be made as an alternative source for Thatta people to minimize their water miseries.