It said that despite the decisions of Indus River System Authority (Irsa), Wapda discharged water prior to the season in the name of power generation, which caused most acute shortage of water ever experienced in the area's history.
The observation was made by the organising committee of Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) in its monthly review meeting on Saturday. In the chair was its President Abdul Majeed Nizamani. The growers' body meeting called upon the higher federal government authorities to hold an enquiry into Wapda's action of releasing water from Tarbela dam for power generation, neglecting the decisions of Irsa, and agricultural expediency.
The release of water before the crop seasons forced the growers to sow rice and cotton crops at 2.2 million acres and 1.6 million acres, respectively, in Sindh after a delay of two months' time, which caused losses of billions of rupees to the agriculture sector of the province, the meeting observed. The wheat crop of the province also suffered a great loss because of non-availability of water, it contended.
The meeting called upon the government to also conduct an enquiry into the release of water in Flood and Link Canals of Punjab till the month of April. The enquiry should also be carried out about the alleged violation of Water Accord, the meeting demanded.
Abadgars meeting also observed that the past experiences of river behaviour indicated that the current dry cycle could last for seven years. Therefore, the abadgars said the federal and provincial governments should initiate such schemes on war footing which could help facilitate availability of water for irrigation purposes. The government should construct cemented ponds in all big villages of the country for storage of sufficient quantity of water for utilisation for agriculture, human and livestock purposes in the country, the meeting suggested, to meet the challenges of expected aridity.
The implementation of laws regarding environment protection should also be carried out in letter and spirit and disposal of effluent, polluted and toxic water of industries and factories into Phuleli Canal, Lined Channel and K B Feeder should be stopped with immediate effect to ensure the safety of peoples' health, the meeting demanded. While reviewing oil and fertilisers prices, the SAB organising committee meeting called for de-linking 20 percent oil exploration of the country from multinational oil companies and treating only the imported oil as production cost.
The oil prices should be brought to the level where these stood six weeks back so that the agriculture sector, which has a share of 80 percent in the country's economy, could be saved from additional expenses of Rs 68.60 billion, the meeting said. It also contended that subsidy is being given in agriculture in the entire world except Pakistan where the DAP fertiliser is being sold at the rate of Rs 3200 per bag as compared to Rs 944 per bag in India.
The price of DAP fertiliser should be fixed at Rs 1000 per bag, the meeting demanded. The burden of Rs 67 billion in respect of subsidy on DAP fertiliser could be recovered from the profit of Rs 180 billion to be earned from additional wheat cultivation, the growers' meeting maintained.
Discussing the law and order situation, the meeting expressed its concern over increasing lawlessness, and pleaded to the government to restore the rule of law by protecting the life and property of law abiding people. The appointments in Police Department, right from Station House Officer to higher level, should be made on merit, and honest and dedicated officers should be appointed irrespective of any political influence, the meeting demanded.