he coastal areas of Sindh have faced a multitude of issues over the recent decades. These include the extinction of some fish species, the allegedly indifferent attitude of successive governments towards the coastal population, the devastation of freshwater lakes and the shrinking of livelihood opportunities. Foremost among these concerns is the predicament of sea intrusion and the drying up of agricultural lands along the coastline.

No wonder nationalist parties, social groups and growers are joining hands to oppose a scheme understood to aggravate the water shortages through building of six more canals upstream. They are calling it a matter of life and death for the people of Sindh.

The people of Sindh have been told that if the canals are built and operated, agricultural lands in Sindh will become barren. The anxiety and the reaction have been compared to the proposal to build a dam at Kalabagh and the opposition and resistance to it.

Agriculture is the biggest employer in Sindh’s economy.

Activists say implementation of the 1991 Water Accord has been inconsistent over the decades. This, they say, has not only caused huge economic losses to the farmers but also led to environmental degradation in the province. For the past two decades, the coastal regions of the province, including Thatta, Sujawal and Badin districts, have not been receiving adequate amounts of fresh water.

Farmers say the inconsistent supply of water has not only affected agriculture in the coastal region but also triggered sea intrusion.

Researchers say in the 1950s and ‘60s, the Indus delta was fertile and prosperous. However diminishing flow in the river has caused a vast agricultural lands to deteriorate. A cyclone like the one in 1999 could cause a catastrophe in the coastal areas. If erosion continues, Shah Bunder could disappear by 2035. By 2050, according to some projections, the seawater intrusion could reach Thatta.

The federal government and the Indus River System Authority are the primary targets of criticism, blame and protest. Insisting that there is no surplus water in the system, the activists question how the IRSA could allow the planning and building of six more canals. They say this amounted to taking away the livelihood for millions of people. They also contend that the resulting habitat degradation would affect aquatic life, fauna and flora.

A Global Change Impact Study Centre report in 2021 had concluded that the degradation of the Indus delta had caused Pakistan a loss of $2 billion [yearly? over 60 years?]. Between 1999 and 2023, Sindh reported a 40 per cent water shortage and the Punjab 15 per cent. Professor Ikhtiar Hussain Ghumro lamented in an article that the River (Indus) that enriched the Indus Valley Civilisation was under a serious threat.

Inconsistent supply of water has not only affected irrigated agriculture in the coastal region but also triggered sea intrusion. 

A study carried out by a group of local agronomists has concluded that if the proposed canals are built and operated at full capacity, 1.2 million acres of agricultural land in Sindh will turn barren on account of water shortages. Scarcity of water has already resulted in around 18 million acres of agricultural land lying uncultivated [Source?].

Abdul Razaq Temro, a villager from Urs Temro, recalls that his community in the coastal area of Jati was renowned for producing an array of red rice varieties that were exported far and wide. “Those days are behind us,” he laments. “The water shortage has not only turned our lands barren, it has also pushed several crops to the brink of extinction.”

Zahid Ishaq Sommro, a local analyst, echoes Temro’s sentiments. “We had the potential to grow a diverse range of pulses and vegetables, but water shortages have snuffed out that possibility,” he says. “It’s heartbreaking to see our once-thriving orchards, famous for their mangoes, oranges, and lemons, wither away due to the devastating effects of the cyclone, heavy rains and flash floods.”

For Allah Bachayo Jat, a farmer, the water crisis has meant the loss of a way of life. “We used to cultivate turmeric, red sugarcane and corn. These were in high demand in local markets,” he reminisces. “But now, those crops are a distant memory, a relic of a time when our lands were fertile, and water was plentiful.”

Qasir Chandio, another local grower, says he fears for the future. “Our cultivated lands are waiting for water. However, it is uncertain when, if at all, it will arrive,” he says. “The paddy cultivation has been delayed. If the water crisis persists, the crop may be lost.”

The fishermen are also expected to suffer as freshwater lakes across Sindh lose a part of their freshwater supply. Agronomist Obhayo Khan Khushik says: “We hear about people in some parts of the world treating rivers like humans and recognizing their rights. Sadly, the trend in our country is in the opposite direction.”

The proposed construction of six more canals is being seen as an existential threat to the Indus River. It could imperil the livelihoods of Sindh’s people and the economy. According to a World Bank Group fact sheet, 77 per cent of Sindh’s agricultural lands rely on canal irrigation.

A significant reduction in river flows will have catastrophic consequences for Sindh’s agrarian economy, pushing an additional 37 percent of the rural population into deeper poverty and vulnerability.

The author is a practicing lawyer and freelance journalist. His areas of interest include cultural diversity and socio-politicis. He tweets as @ZainSha1 on X.