ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: Former prime minister and Chairperson Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto has expressed deep concern over artificial shortage of water in Larkana in particular and in Sindh in general.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ms Bhutto said she was deeply concerned that Drigh Lake in Larkana and Manchhar lake in Dadu, recognized as wildlife sanctuary of Sindh, had dried up. As a result, aquatic life in these lakes had perished. She said the problem of water shortage was widespread in Sindh.

The Manchhar lake, spread over an area of 65,000 acres in Sindh and one of the largest lakes of Asia, is dying due to neglect of the regime. The Right Bank Outfall Drainage (RBOD) is discharging salinity into the lake polluting its water and threatening the livelihood of about 10,000 people, who depend on fishing. The sweet water is turning into brackish taking its toll on fish, she said.

The pouring in of national and international visitors to the lakes and the livelihood that it generated for countless families has become a thing of the past due to the criminal neglect of the rulers, she said.

The PPP chairperson said given the political will and the determination to address the grievances of the people, the problem could be overcome by building small dams, lining of water canals and preventing the discharge into the lake of the saline water.

She said the PPP government had drawn up plans for this purpose but it was over thrown by undemocratic forces. She said the military regime could draw on those plans and address the water issue in Sindh.

It is most unfortunate and deplorable that the rulers have no time to address issues like these. The former prime minister asked the regime to immediately address the issue and save the lakes from drying and people from starvation.

Neglecting the issue of building small dams has resulted in a massive fall in agricultural production from seven percent of the GDP during the PPP government in 1996 to less than three percent under the present rulers, she said.

Ms Bhutto said the big dams, which took more than a decade to plan and build, would not address the issue, as these were primarily drawn up as energy related projects.

Neglecting small dams behind the facade of lack of consensus on building big dams tant amounts to hoodwinking the people and side-stepping the real issues facing the poor people, she said.