IN a devastating turn of events, a massive breach of 200 feet in the Rohri Canal in Tando Adam has led to severe flooding, inundating over 8,000 acres of fertile agricultural land. This area, known for its rich mango farms, banana orchards and cotton crops, now faces monumental losses. The breach has also submerged more than 60 villages, displacing thousands of residents and leaving their livelihoods in jeopardy.

Tragically, the response from the au- thorities has been alarmingly inadequate. Moreover, the irrigation department, responsible for maintaining the canal, has been conspicuously absent. Unfortunately, the disaster management authorities, which should have been mobilised swiftly to mitigate the impact, have similarly been missing. On the other hand, the lack of modern machinery to control the damage further exacerbates the situation, highlighting a glaring gap in disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

This catastrophe underscores a critical failure in the maintenance as well as management of the canal system. Negligence and ignorance towards essential tasks, such as cleaning and lining the canals, are starkly evident. The annual cleaning and pitching of the canals, crucial for preventing such disasters, have been grossly neglected. The consequences are now tragically clear, with long-lasting impacts on the region’s economy and the lives of its residents.

Furthermore, the absence of an effective crop insurance system and the lack of compensation for agricultural losses have left landowners and farmers in a dire strait. The current tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for the implemen-tation of a robust crop insurance policy and a comprehensive compensation mec- hanism for the affected farmers.

Against this backdrop, the scale of this disaster should be considered a national crisis. Immediate and decisive action is needed to address the urgent needs of the affected population, prevent further damage, as well as implement long-term measures to safeguard the region’s agr- icultural backbone.

On its part, the government must hold accountable those responsible for the neglect, and take steps to ensure such a disaster does not recur. Failure to do so may further embolden the culprits.

Finally, this breach in the Rohri Canal is not just an isolated incident, but a symptom of systemic issues that demand urgent attention and a comprehensive policy to prevent such incidents in future. The sheer livelihood of thousands, and the overall agricultural output of the region depend on prompt and effective solutions.

Qazi Fahad Ahmed
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2024