HYDERABAD, June 1: Seawater has inundated two million acres of the Indus delta in Thatta and Badin districts and 60 per cent of mangroves have been destroyed due to non-release of water downstream Kotri.

This was observed by leaders of public opinion, intellectuals and representatives of NGOs while speaking at the Indus Delta Conference of affected people, organized by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum here on Monday.

The speakers stressed the need for pursuing the case of the Indus delta effectively before the rulers. Speaking on the occasion, leaders of the forum, Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, Jami Chandio, Naseer Memon, Ali Palh, Nazeer Memon, Abu Bakar Shaikh and others, said that non-release of water downstream Kotri had badly affected agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors and forced a large number of people to migrate from the Indus delta in search of employment.

They said that holding of seminars and workshops was necessary to create awareness among people but the case of Indus delta should also be forcefully presented before policy makers and at international fora.

It was also necessary to present the case before organizations working for preservation of environment and ecology at the international level, they further said. The speakers demanded compensation for affected families.

Quite a few affected people, including Ameer Bux Jatt and Shafi Mohammad, also spoke on the occasion. Sajan Mallah and Arib Mallah feared that life in the Indus delta would come to an end if water was not released downstream Kotri.

The conference adopted several resolutions, demanding release of water downstream Kotri to save the Indus delta and protect livelihood of fishermen and agriculturists. It further demanded that no water projects should be constructed on the Indus river and discharge of effluent into sea should be stopped by setting up sewage treatment plants.

The conference maintained that at least 25,000 cusecs of poisonous water had been released into sea through the Left Bank Outfall Drain. It was further observed that industrial waste and sewage of the city was also creating havoc for fishermen and the delta people.

The conference demanded the formulation of a fishermen-friendly fishery policy, cancellation of licenses to deep-sea trawlers and ban on the use of small fishing nets. It opposed the grant of contracts to law-enforcement agencies in the Badin district for catching fish. The conference also demanded that people living in coastal areas should be provided with health and education facilities.