Sindh Assembly adopts 'Security of Vulnerable Establishment Bill'

The Sindh Assembly on Friday unanimously adopted 'The Sindh Security of Vulnerable Establishment Bill, 2015'. While presenting the bill, Sindh Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro told the house that the government intended to enforce National Action Plan to protect the institutions prone to terror attacks.
With the passage of the bill, the existing 'Sindh Security of Vulnerable Establishment Ordinance 2015' stands repealed.
The house also unanimously voted to a resolution tabled by Sindh Senior Education Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro. The resolution states: "This Assembly resolves and strongly protests against the decision of Irsa to open the irrigation water supply to Chasma-Jehlum line canal in violation of inter-provincial agreement. This Assembly demands that the supply be suspended forthwith unless the province of Sindh gives its consent".
However, the opposition members belonging to PML-F and MQM asked the government to take practical steps to ensure water supply for agriculture purposes in the province during Kharif season.
Opening the debate, Khuhro said that Irsa had violated the inter-provincial water agreement and let the stream move into Chashma-Jehlum line canal causing water shortage for agriculture irrigation in Sindh.
From Terbela Dam, some 25,000 cusec feet of water was released on the pretext of power generation, he said adding that the stream was however steered to the canal depriving Sindh of its much needed share. He further said that the canal was for streaming flood water only.
"Until Sindh meets its water needs and agrees, Irsa cannot arbitrarily permit any diversion of stream to the canal," Khuhro said.
"The CCI should take notice of it," he said adding that "we all suffer from water shortage". He said that Sindh had a bigger area of cultivation and larger population, thus requiring more water supplies to meet its agriculture demand.
Dr Mandhro termed the diversion of water as 'old' issue that continued to repeat every now and then. He said that Sindh had been facing water theft problems since 80s. "It is an injustice to Sindh," he observed.
MQM's Syed Sardar Ahmed told the house that Irsa had no right to pass resolution without consensus.
PML-F's Mehtab Akbar Rashdi called the Irsa's move as 'trust deficit', seeking protection to lower riparian water rights. She said that international law did advocate the protection of lower riparian rights.
Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that Irsa's decision was a violation of all previous inter-provincial water accords. He termed the 1991 water accord among the provinces as 'betrayal' to Sindh.
PML-F's Nusrat Sehar Abbasi slammed the PPP government for not raising the water crisis issue with the federation. She said that the provincial government instead of taking practical steps to resolve water crisis had indulged in adopting a resolution. She however supported the resolution. The house will now meet on Monday, April 27.