THATTA, Jan 26 PPP MPA Humera Alwani has said the construction of a 44-megawatt hydro power project on Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal will be detrimental for Sindh.

Talking to journalists here on Tuesday, she criticised the construction of $87.3 million project on the controversial flood canal and said that on the pretext of power generation, Punjab would convert the non-perennial canal into a perennial one to irrigate land in its four districts, including Khushab, Bakhar and Layyah, and 2.1 million acres of Cholistan.

However, she said, it would intensify water shortage in Sindh, ruin its agricultural economy and particularly render fatal blow to the tail-end districts of Thatta and Badin.

The MPA said that she was surprised to know that Punjab was undertaking the construction of the powerhouse despite the fact that responding to the call of comments by the stake holders, the Sindh government on June 20, 2009, rejected the project terming it not feasible.

Owing to non perennial status of Chashma- Jhelum Canal, the Indus River System Authority had termed the NEPRA licence for the project as non-feasible.

Ms Alwani said that entire country was facing a crucial crisis of water and Sindh was receiving 40 per cent less than its due share, and construction of a power generation plant on a controversial flood canal by Punjab would further fan hatred and sense of deprivation among the people of Sindh.

The MPA asked how the Chashma Jhelum and Taunsa-Panjnad link canals and Greater Thal Canal which were constructed only to be streamlined during the flood days were being actively operated as regular canals.

She said Punjab was planning to make the Chashma-Jhelum canal perennial on pretext of operating hydro power project.

She said that if the Chashma-Jhelum canal continued to flow 22,000 cusecs and Taunsa-Panjnad canal 12000 cusecs i.e., total 34,000 cusecs of water, Sindh would ultimately turn barren.

She said the government should realise the gravity of devastation of coastline, shrinking resources of livelihood in the deltaic region and sea intrusion in Thatta and Badin districts, and added that if the stake holders continued to keep their eyes closed, the situation would go out of hands.

She demanded withdrawal of such controversial projects, release of required quantum of at least 10 to 35 MAF water downstream Kotri and implementation of 91 water accord to avoid any hatred and division among the federating units.