Desertifying Sindh

Listen to article

The question of ownership, possession and distribution of land and its underlying resources - which ought to be a common heritage for humanity - has been one of the most contested issues and a major cause of conflict among and within states for millennia. While land itself may not inherently hold significant value, it is the bond one develops with it and the resources it carries that serve as a deterrent against and a magnet for conquest. Throughout history, the possession of land and resources, regardless of its justification, was largely determined by the might wielded by individuals or states within and beyond it. However, lately, the codification and institutionalisation of international law have in theory reduced the forceful land encroachment by foreign powers. Instead, they have given the state complete control over resources, people, policies and land in the name of sovereignty.

Ideally, the sovereign states need to use land and resources with the consent of and for the welfare of the people. This would involve providing the masses, particularly those who reside on the land, with fair and inclusive rights to livelihood, housing, a healthy environment, employment and security. However, when states fail to effectively manage land and resources due to weak governance, corruption, questionable legitimacy or a combination of these factors, they often exacerbate the deprivation of the masses through exclusive experiments that inevitably falter. This cycle of failures harms the people, depletes resources and undermines the rule of law.

The allocation of land in different provinces and efforts to irrigate the same is the latest experiment, with significant implications for the rights of the people, notably in Sindh. Under the Green Pakistan Initiative, around 52,000 acres of land in Sindh have been identified for corporate agricultural farming. Land allocation is part of the long-sought-after land reforms questionably carried out in the country to improve agriculture productivity and modernise farming practices. Isn't it perplexing that the state does not instead prioritise allocating state land to indigenous populations, the landless, underprivileged and struggling labourers in each province, while simultaneously providing adequate financial, technical and logistical support to help improve mechanised agricultural practices and bolster growth?

Furthermore, the proposed construction of six canals on the Indus River, as part of a corporate farming initiative, to divert the province's already scarce water resources to irrigate the deserts of Cholistan is exceedingly alarming for the people of Sindh. This move will likely exacerbate the province's water woes, as Sindh is already struggling to meet its own water needs. As a lower riparian area, Sindh is exclusively dependent on the Indus River and has been facing an annual water shortage of 40 to 45 per cent due to inequitable water distribution. The construction of these canals and the diversion of scarce water resources will significantly worsen water scarcity and accelerate desertification in the province. This will, in turn, lead to frequent famines, food insecurity, conflict and displacement.

This paradoxical policy of desertifying an inhabited and fertile yet water-scarce Sindh, to cultivate a desert of Cholistan for corporate benefits, speaks volumes of the myopia and self-centred priorities. Against the backdrop of the plans, people from all walks of life - farmers, growers, nationalists, students, academics and intellectuals - in the province are protesting the mentioned plans, which appear to have the implied assent of the provincial government.

Whether or not the planned projects in Sindh are carried out, the province will remain at the receiving end. If successfully undertaken, the province will face frequent famine and witness increased lawlessness. If revoked, the provincial political status quo will hypocritically claim the credit for being the guardians of provincial interests to regain dwindling political capital within the province.