Federal Water and Power Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi on Thursday said that 40 percent work on the Greater Thal Canal has been completed. He was addressing a press conference here. He said that the Sindh government is responsible for provision of water for irrigation purposes and removal of complaints lodged by the Abadgars.
He said that he was surprised by the recent statement of Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on the Thal Canal and irrigation water supplies.
Jatoi said that as the federal minister he had always sought to uphold the rights of Sindh.
He said General Pervez Musharraf had said that Thal, Ranni and Kutchi canals were actually meant to drain out floodwaters and the floodwaters would be released in these canals in consultation with the farmers and Abadgars.
He said that the management of canals and their tributaries was the domain of the Sindh Irrigation Department and it was the responsibility of the provincial government to ensure proper and equitable distribution of irrigation water among agriculturists.