Sindh and Balochistan: Senate panel underscores need for forestalling land erosion

A parliamentary committee Friday asked the federal and provincial governments as well as concerned department for taking measures to prevent further land erosion by the sea as sea has already intruded 1,100 kilometres area in the province of Sindh and Balochistan.
A meeting of the Senate Sub-Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms was held here to discuss the possible solution required to secure costal areas of Balochistan and Sindh - Karachi to Badin - from sea intrusion in the light of vision 2025. The meeting presided over by the Senator Karim Ahmed Khawaja expressed its displeasure over absence of senior official of Planning and Development Balochistan and Costal Development Balochistan as well as Chief Secretary Balochistan. The committee also decided to move a privilege motion against the officials of the province of Balochistan province who did not attend the meeting.
The convenor of the committee stated "sea has intruded 750 milometer area in the province of Balochistan and 350 milometer area in the province of Sindh". He said that concerned departments, provincial and federal governments must realise the situation and take measures to avert further intrusion of land in the costal areas of both the provinces.
A joint secretary of planning, development and reforms informed the meeting that Planning Commission prepares schemes for its own ministry while other schemes are submitted to the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) by the ministries for approval. "If a scheme is over Rs 3 billion cost, it is forwarded to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC)," he added.
He said that any scheme of national importance can be taken up for inclusion in the vision 2025. An official of defence ministry stated it was working with National Institute of Oceanography and prepared a comprehensive report after conducting a survey of the areas and meeting with the affected people. Chairman Irsa informed the meeting that a study was carried out in 2004 regarding sea intrusion in which international experts had suggested some very good proposals but these were not implemented. The meeting was also informed that 12.73 thousands acre area of Thatta and Sujawal had been affected.
Officials of Oceanography informed the meeting that Ministry of Information and Technology has taken some measures to prevent the sea intrusion and held a meeting with Chinese experts in this regard. The IT ministry has arranged the visit of Chinese experts to the affected areas.
Officials of Sindh Development Authority informed the meeting that 8-10 million mangroves plants are available to control the sea intrusion. Officials of WAPDA underlined the need of a feasibility study because water bed has also declined in Lahore. Convenor of the committee stated that there is need to review the Indus River Treaty of 1960 to ensure water in other rivers.