The coastal regions of District Sujawal and Thatta have faced severe water shortages over the last several months, offering little relief as yet. "Water is essential for life, and we've been denied this basic right," states Sattar Machi, a local from Union Council Karmalak within Tehsil Jati, underscoring the crisis impacting these seaside communities.
Based on details shared by officials from the Sujawal district irrigation department, the primary water sources feeding the coastal regions—such as Jati, Ladiyo, Chuhar Jamali, and Shahbunder—are experiencing severe shortages because of reduced water levels below Kotri. Given that Sindh faces a total shortfall of 47%, these coastal zones in the province may soon encounter drought conditions.
Allah Bux Temro, a local farmer, noted that standing crops like cotton and tomatoes were wilting. The circumstances in these regions have become critical, with both men and women having to cover great distances to collect water for drinking and everyday needs.
A local inhabitant named Ali Akbar Thaheem revealed that the groundwater along the shoreline has become saline, forcing the community to use water that could lead to various health problems.
In these regions, women obtain water from nearby vendors who transport it using donkeys and mules to reach the town centers within the district. Rasool Bux Bario, one such vendor, mentioned that he charges 150 rupees for a canister of water. However, individuals in distant locations often struggle to make payments promptly because they face financial hardships and lack sufficient economic prospects.
The ongoing water scarcity has not only caused misery for locals but has also endangered the ecological integrity of the area. Once teeming with life, the riverbed of the Indus is now buried under layers of sand. The degradation of the Indus Delta continues due to insufficient water released after passing through the Kotri Barrage.
According to water specialist Naseer Memon, extracting additional water from the Indus River could exacerbate the challenges faced by the coastal area of Sindh. He also asserted that the current water shortage has surpassed levels seen over the past 25 years in the tail-end regions of Sindh, specifically affecting Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, and Tando Muhammad Khan.
Supporting this claim, Obhayo Khan Khushik, an agronomist and ex-Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department of Sindh, called upon the federal government to assess conditions in the downstream regions of Sindh prior to building new canals along the Indus River. He cautioned that insufficient water supply could exacerbate seawater intrusion into the area, potentially leading to the demise of the Indus Delta.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).