Politically motivated permission of additional water outlets to influential farmers in Sindh has deprived small landowners of their water share to the extent that many of them are likely to suspend cultivation this season, Business Recorder learnt on Friday.
The outgoing Sindh chief minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, and former advisors on agriculture and irrigation Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi and Nadir Akmal Leghari had reportedly been influencing their staff to permit additional water outlets to their political cronies.
Sindh Chief Secretary Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi has taken a serious note of this situation and has ordered proper assessment of the extent of damage to canals and deprivation caused to tail-end farmers of their quota of water.
Irrigation Department sources said that in certain areas the number of extra water outlets had outnumbered the legally sanctioned outlets. The effect of indiscriminate sanctions of additional water outlets was unequal distribution of irrigation water and denial of right to have sanctioned quota of water by the poor and helpless small farmers.
Sources expressed fear that delay in providing relief would have long-term adverse effect on the farmers having small farms. They said that the CS has asked the department of irrigation to provide proper assessment of all the additional outlets sanctioned in recent months so that appropriate corrective steps could be taken.
After the assessment of damage to canals and sufferings of small farmers the Chief Secretary would place the matter before the Chief Minister and, if need be, the cabinet for decision. The chief secretary is of the opinion that the additional outlets should be closed down forthwith and action be initiated against the lawbreakers.
During his recent visit to the interior of Sindh, the CS had received a large number of complaints regarding theft of water, sanction of illegal and additional water-courses to influential farmers, misappropriation in water quota and the perpetual difficulties tail-end farmers are facing in getting water. The effect of 'bhal safai' or dredging, done in the past in the tail-end portion of canals is no more visible. Tail-end portions of canals are now dry and there is fresh need of cleaning.
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