Farmers, civil society oppose proposed changes to Irsa law, demand withdrawal – Pakistan

HYDERABAD/THATTA: The Sindh Abadgar Ittehad (SAI) and civil society leaders in Thatta have opposed the proposed amendments to the Indus River System Authority Act, 1992 and called for its immediate repeal.

Speaking at a joint press conference after their meeting on Wednesday, SAI president Nawab Zubair Talpur, general secretary Mohammad Anwar, Javed Riar and others warned that the changes would undermine the consensus on inter-provincial water distribution. They said the Water Apportionment Accord 1991 was signed after serious problems arose regarding the federal units. They added that Sindh had already criticized the water distribution under that accord but the Irsa Act of 1992 was now being amended.

They said that such amendments would deprive the provinces of their rights and give more powers to the prime minister. They said that it was a matter of great concern. Delegating all powers to one person in a democratic dispensation and tinkering with the law would undermine the agreement on water distribution.

They maintained that it was done to ensure the availability of water for the corporate farming initiative and that decisions could be taken in that sense. They rejected the proposed amendments and demanded that they be withdrawn immediately.

Say that changes undermine consensus on interprovincial water distribution

Discussing the recent damage caused by rainfall, the SAI representatives said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had warned about the heavy rains, but unfortunately, the required steps were not taken by the Sindh government and the irrigation department. Water could not be drained from the fields and standing crops were damaged, they said, adding that vegetables like chillies, tomatoes and onions were destroyed on a large scale.

They said the gates of Sukkur Barrage were also damaged while the Rohri Canal developed a breach and now rains were lashing several districts. They called for compensation to farmers and waiver of their loans. They added that the farmers should be given assistance for cultivation of Rabi crops.

On wheat crop, they said that farmers were reluctant to grow wheat on a large scale as they were not getting adequate price in the market. They said that since their input cost for wheat crop had increased, they would grow wheat crop only for their own consumption and thus imitate their Punjab counterparts.

They said they did not get good price for the wheat last year and similarly they recently sold rice crop at Rs2,300 per 40 kg as against Rs4,300 last year. They said there was record wheat production but the wheat was still being imported which crashed the market and farmers were facing financial losses. They said such surplus wheat crop was still available in the market.

The SAI leaders said they were not getting better price for crops because the support price for mustard and cotton was not assured. They said the mafia dealing in the rice sector was ready to loot rice farmers. Regarding the sugarcane harvest, they said the vibes from the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) suggested that they would not start the pressing season because they wanted a reduction in the cane price, which is normally fixed by the government.

They condemned the approach of PSMA and demanded that the meeting of Sugarcane Control Board be convened. They also urged the government to represent SAI in the board and the price of sugarcane should be fixed at Rs500 per 40 kg while rice should be procured at Rs4,000 per 40 kg.

Civil society organizations protest against changes in Irsa law

Civil society leaders, literary figures and journalists in Thatta have fiercely opposed the federal government’s plans to amend the IRSA Act and build five new dams on the Indus.

They accused Punjab of openly confiscating Sindh’s water resources and warned that the Sindhi people would oppose the proposed amendments and construction of dams.

They spoke at a protest meeting outside the Thatta Press Club on Wednesday.

Water expert and author of several books on Indus waters, engineer Obhayo Khushk, renowned researcher Dr Muhammad Ali Manjhi, Thatta Press Club president Iqbal Jakhro, Hindu Panchayat Daryano Mal, Sindhi Adabi Sangat Faqir Akram Mangarhar, social activist Nazir Jakhro and others alleged that the changes were aimed at appointing biased members to the Irsa to seize Sindh’s rightful share of Indus waters.

They argued that while the province’s natural resources and water were coveted, the Sindhi people were treated with indifference. Those who underestimate the resilience of the Sindhi people should keep the lessons of 1971 in mind, they warned.

They highlighted long-standing grievances over the non-implementation of the 1991 Water Accord and criticised the federal government for introducing new legislation that would further marginalise Sindh.

They accused the Pakistan Peoples Party, which ruled the province for 16 years, of endangering Sindh’s resources and being complicit in the decisions taken against the province.

They pointed out that three provinces, including Sindh, had already opposed the construction of new dams on the Indus, including the controversial Kalabagh Dam. Despite this, Punjab had decided to go ahead with the projects, a decision that Sindh not only rejected but would also vehemently oppose, they said.

They warned that the proposed amendments to the IRSA Act were much more dangerous than the Kalabagh Dam and vowed that they would not accept them under any circumstances.

Published in Dawn, September 5, 2024