New Delhi, July 3
The ambitious but politically ill-advised Greater Thal Canal (GTC) project in Pakistan is threatening to snowball into a major problem for the Pervez Musharraf regime and the Pakistani press has warned that a “war for water” among the different provinces was looming large.
Strong resentment prevails in Sindh province over the construction of Thal Canal, the foundation of which was laid down by President Musharraf on August 16, 2001.
The Dawn editorial commented on July 1: “A ‘war for water’ among the country’s federating units is looming large and the preparations for a showdown, perhaps final, seem to be in their final phase. The ties, especially between Sindh and Punjab, were marred, what the people of Sindh now strongly believe by the pro-Punjab policies pursued by the Centre in complete disregard to the due rights of the smaller provinces.”
The Central Government has been pushing the Rs 30 billion canal project despite the fact that the Sindh Assembly has passed a resolution against it.
In protest against the construction of this canal, a Thal Canal Action Committee (TCAC) has been formed which has started demonstrations and fast all over the province. Reporting this, Urdu Friday Special said all national and regional parties are opposing this project alleging that the government had prepared a plan aimed at rewarding former military generals. It said the Sindh land, which had already turned into a desert due to scarcity of water, would not get its due share of water because of this project.
Founder leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain has asked Gen Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali to stop work on the Thal Canal project forthwith. He also proposed that a roundtable conference be convened comprising Sindhi intellectuals, experts and all parties because the people of Sindh had strong reservations about Thal Canal adding that Sindh Assembly had also adopted a unanimous resolution against it.
Mr Altaf said that feudal lords had become a part and parcel of the establishment and pointed out that the people of Sindh had been continually deprived of their fundamental rights, even though Sindh contributed 70 per cent of the national exchequer. He regretted that the people of Sindh were being deprived of their rights for the last 55 years although they had been paying 70 per cent revenue. He alleged that in Sindh lands were being distributed among retired Generals while Sindhi youth were not getting employment.
Anti-Thal Canal rallies have also been held in different parts of Sindh including Hyderabad, Badir, Zeel Park, Puno Aqil, Dadu Larkana and Nawab Shah. A Sindhi leader, Dr Qadir Magsi, who has been addressing the rallies has gone on record saying that due to shortage of water, the opportunities of employment had vanished completely and Sindhi youths were compelled to commit suicide. He alleged that all resources of Sindh were being diverted to Islamabad and Lahore.
The Greater Thal Canal is a 23-mile floodwater canal (agreed in the 1991 inter-provincial water accord) branching off from the Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal and taking water from Indus only during the flood season. The Rs 30 billion canal is to operate only three months in the year to irrigate the arid areas of Bhakkar-Layyah-Khushab, benefiting a population of half a million.
Pakistan-watchers here say that the Sindhis simply don’t trust the Punjabis. The Sindhis think that the Chashma Link Canal has been misused by the Punjabis. They are certain that the canal will skim off water that really belongs to the fast desiccating Sindh province.
