Sindh has lost 3.5m acres to the sea since 1956, say experts

Karachi to be underwater by 2060 if immediate measures not taken to protect Indus Delta.

KARACHI: Nearly 3.5 million acres of agricultural land in Sindh has been eroded since 1956, claimed experts as they discussed the threat of sea intrusion.

Experts believe that the coastal districts of Sindh will be submerged by 2050 if immediate measures are not taken to protect the Indus Delta. "Badin, Thatta and Sajawal will be underwater by 2050 if 35 million acre feet (MAF) of water are not released from the Indus Delta," claimed Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah, adding that he had been speaking out about the issue for the last five years but the government was not taking any action.

The standing committee on science and technology was recently informed that Badin and Thatta would be submerged by 2050 and Karachi by 2060. "The government should investigate the reason for the intrusion of the sea — it is caused by the stoppage of water flow in the Indus Delta," said Shah. "It takes hundreds of years to develop a delta but Sindh's delta has been destroyed in less than 50 years."

Discussing the apprehensions of the residents of Badin, Thatta and Sajawal, Shah said that more than 0.8 million families had migrated from the coastal areas.

The Water Accord of 1991 said that 10MAF water will be released below the Kotri downstream. According to environmentalists, however, the agreement has been completely sidelined, despite there being a need for the release of 35MAF instead of 10MAF.



"The accord should be revisited," said Nasir Ali Panhwar, the executive director of the Centre for Environment and Development. Referring to a study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, he said that it showed that at least 35MAF of water had to be released.

The first setback to the Indus Delta, according to Panhwar, was the Indus Water Treaty of 1960. The construction of Tarbela Dam as well as other dams and canals further ruined the delta, he asserted.

"The 'food basket' of Karachi, Malir, is also being eroded and the water table has recently gone down."

Altaf Hussain Shaikh, the conservation manager of WWF-Pakistan, also emphasised the need to ensure a certain flow of water in the Indus Delta. "The severity of erosion is high in Badin, moderate in Sajawal and Thatta and low in Karachi," he said.

Meanwhile, urban planner Farhan Anwar questioned the research. "I don't think the figures shared are based on research," he said, adding that he believed it was merely hype. Commenting on the waste management facilities of Karachi, he said, "Garbage will submerge Karachi before it is eroded by seawater."

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2015.