By Rehan Ali Khushik

HYDERABAD/ SUKKUR TTL – Task team leader World Bank Francois Onimus emphasized that environment flow downstream of Kotri Barrage is essential not only for surviving Hilsa (Pala) but is very important for controlling sea intrusion in the river, sustaining the mangrove ecosystem.

He highlighted the Ecosystem system for fish species said that the Mangrove not only provides Ecosystem for fish species and aquatic life but also defense lines from Tsunami which affect not populous areas but destroy the economy of the country.

  TTL – Task team leader World Bank Francois Onimus who is renowned water expert as well as in World Bank was presiding over virtually meeting of Sindh Barrages Improvement Projects  related to review progress of Sindh Barrages Improvement Projects – a modernization and rehabilitation project of Guddu and Sukkur Barrages.

  This meeting of the high-level forum of the World Bank reviewed the progress of barrages and its components.

World Bank TTL- Task Team Leader Mr François Onimus appreciated the progress of rehabilitation of barrages at Guddu and SukKur and further said that these barrages are the backbone of the economy of Sindh. He said that if any kind of damages in barrages, its barrage structure and river training works may cause billions of billion dollars to the economy of Sindh. He said that the rehabilitation works at Guddu and Sukkur Barrages will enhance capacity of water supply to their command areas, consisting not only irrigated land but also livestock, Industrial sectors and drinking purposes.

 He said that the command area of offtaking canals of Guddu barrage, ground water is brackish and saline which is not drinkable so the overall population depends on canal water. He said that also in the command area of offtaking canals of Sukkur Barrage ground water is almost brackish but due to recharge of ground water through irrigation network recharge which develop shallow lances, near that is used for drinking purpose through hand pumps.

Mr Takeaki Sato, renowned environmentalist of the World Bank briefed that the population of Indus Dolphin should be done between Guddu to Sukkur reach which declared a sensitive area RAMSAR site. 

He briefed that this species was endangered which was observed in Indus River,  Ganga River and Rivers in China. He showed keen interest in the rescue of stranded Indus Dolphin in canals. He further mentioned that the initial survey was conducted by Sindh WildLife Department found 132 Indus Dolphin in 1972 while 1490 was found in 2019 which shows continuous growth of Indus Dolphin in Guddu to Sukkur reaches. He further emphasized that at least Indus Dolphin surveys must be carried out on a yearly basis because this species is rare and endangered at Global level. He mentioned that waste and effluent/ toxic water from different locations from upstream of Guddu Barrage, waste water Guddu power plants, Rohri, Sukkur and at different locations downstream of Sukkur which affect not only endangered Dolphins but also fish species as well as aquatic lives. 

 Dr Asghar Mahesar deputy director environment SBIP-Sindh Barrages Improvement Project briefed the world bank team regarding studies of environmental flow downstream of Kotri and fish migration specially Hilsa ( Pala) from Urban sea to Multan.

He briefed regarding ToRs-Terms of reference of both studies like environment flow and fish migration. He said that three studies regarding releasing downstream of Kotri environment flow was done by the federal government and the International Panel of experts have recommended releasing 5000 cusecs of water downstream of Kotri consecutively.

He further briefed the World Bank that Hilsa (Pala) was migrating from Urban Sea to Multan covering 1000 kilometers but after construction of barrages in Indus River, movement of Pala is confined between urban sea and Kotri Barrage.

In Keeping of view of endangered Hilsa (Pala) is becoming extinct, therefore there is need surviving this endangered species to survive and sustain the Ecosystem of Coastal area through releasing environment flow.

Dr Mahesar said that annually Hilsa catch of in 1953 was 10000 tons while in 2012 reduced 266 tons as per survey. He said that therefore, there is need for further detailed survey not only indigenous species Pala but also local fish species which are rich in nutrition for the health of common people. He urged the effluent releasing from polluted water of Manchhar Lake to stop releasing in Indus River which further degrades water which is used for drinking purposes not only Hyderabad city and associated cities and towns and also metropolitan  city Karachi, it can cause waterborne diseases. He suggested to stop releasing effluent of Industrial and Pharmaceuticals and power houses at up and down stream of Kotri barrage as he called it is dangerous for human lives and fish species.

Mohi U Ddin Mughal Project director Sindh Barrages Improvement Project presented a detailed progress regarding ongoing works of Guddu Barrage.

Briefing to the World Bank team, Mr Mughal said that replacement of gates of three canals off taking canals from Guddu Barrage have been completed, while main barrages gates are under fabrication of Rona Makina facility in Turkey.

PD SBIP Mohi u Ddin Mughal briefed regarding 92 years aged Sukkur Barrage that replacement of six gates such as gate numbers 39,40,35,33,32,31 have to be replaced on emergency basis.  He said that the gate numbers 39, 40 have been replaced while replacing work at 35 is going on, while gate numbers ,33,32 and 31 are under fabrication and their 80 percent average work is completed.

Furthermore, he briefed regarding replacement of 50 main barrage gates of Sukkur Barrage and 56 gates of offtaking canals will be replaced through SBIP/ S-1 contract which is to be awarded up to June 2021.

Mr Chirshall chief resident engineer project implementation consultants further briefed the team of the World Bank that 10 gates of main Guddu Barrage have been fabricated out of 65 gates in Turkey. He stated that six gates fabricated will arrive at the project site of Guddu Barrage before the end of week of  May month 2021.

He described that these gates will be replaced at Guddu Barrage before the coming monsoon floods in Sindh.

Meeting was also attended by Sajid Ali Bhutto Deputy Project Director SBIP, Abdul Razak Memon deputy director procurement SBIP, water experts, ex Secretary Irrigation Junaid Memon, ex Additional secretary irrigation Aslam Ansari, member of Sindh for IRSA Zahid Ali Junejo, Rubina Wahaj Dr Maria and Mr Momoir from FAO,  Ghulam Hyder Qureshi, Miss Maryam Minhas ,Ms Fareeha from Project Coordination Monitoring unit of planning and development department government of Sindh.

By: Sher Zada

The world is global village, the term coined by a Canadian thinker Marshall McLuhan in 1960 become very popular and since had has been pitching everywhere, not only on virtual media but nowadays people living in Far East, Asia and other remote corners of the world are used to say” the world is a global village”.

Technological advancement, boom and boast of internet via cellular phones played a vital role in the spread of making a world a quickly connected, touched and heard through modern gadgets. Europe, America, Australia could considered the continents that not only virtually mobilized themselves with the term but practically showcased what ought to be called being a part of global village. These continents developed their infrastructures, transportation, urban mobility, life style, business deals etc. in accordance to the principles of global village; moreover they moved their ideas, innovations, and products in other continents such as Africa, Asia, and influenced people through direct and indirect soft technological invasions while getting control on nerves and vibes of the masses in third world countries.

Not only simply this happened, the people started moving from third world countries to the developed continents hunting better wages and availing lush lifestyle, but the people in advanced countries launched racist tags about Asians and Africans and labelled them with different annoying titles.

However, China ,Japan  could be pin pointed  technologically more equipped countries in Asia, Nigeria, South Africa , Egypt in Africa . But the most wondering fact about these third world’s leading economies that they rarely favor their neighboring countries in the times of crises. China the country with 1,443,995,000 populations and $16.64 trillion GDP is one of the most economically powerful and technologically advanced country has been unequally playing its role in helping its neighbors faced with challenges of poverty, climate change and other economic crisis, nonetheless China is supporting Pakistan a country that is rival of India an ultimate opponent of China, similarly Japan that comes second economically strong power, often has rivalry with China and has been helping rarely Philippines  that is on the surge of extreme poverty. Likewise India and Pakistan the two atomic powers have been combating against one another and paying less attention to help their neighboring countries i.e. Nepal and Bhutan and Afghanistan, instead of helping them they use the underdeveloped countries as shields against one another .

Due to these facts the neighbors are less valuable than the far lying donors and aiding countries from other continents which stretched their hands for help with intentions serving their designed interests in the region. These factors have been paralyzing the notions of mutual cooperation and self- reliance to coop with challenges, natural calamities ,droughts, earthquakes where the lack of preparedness and improper mechanism to tackle with causes high death toll and economical loss ,taking an account the current Covid-19 pandemic ,where India the boasting economy has high daily positive Covid-19 patients and plumbing death toll due to unavailability of ventilators , ambulances and proper check and balance, while its counterpart Pakistan has shortage of Oxygen .The race for controlling the continental power bridles both have been spending a huge amount on arsenals ,weapons and military growth while spending less  for developing their health structures and good governance etc.

That has been destroying the concept of productive globalism and essence of a welfare global village. However, the recent medical assistance to craving India for medical equipment and emergency services, by a Pakistani charity called Edhi could be counted as gesture of global humanity and positive aspect of global village.  Instead of damaging and rising troubles for neighbors if the positive culture of helping neighbors in the times of crisis is equally revived then the world could be saved from disasters and pandemics and be placed on track of fast growing development, where nobody would be spared from basic foods, health and living a standard lifestyle .It will not only propel the spirit of equal development but will helpful in building prosperous future for coming generations. 

The writer is an Islamabad based Journalist

He can be reached at [email protected]