KARACHI: A session of the Sindh Assembly on Monday descended into chaos Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPP) and Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) lawmakers shouted slogans and shoved each other over water distribution.
According to sources, the house witnessed chaos when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposed the resolution presented by the PPP lawmaker demanding Sindh’s due share of water from the Centre under the Water Accord. Sources further said the resolution was opposed by PTI lawmaker Mohammad Ali Aziz.
On this occasion, the Sindh Irrigation Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal came in anger over the attitude of PTI lawmakers regarding not raising a voice over the shortage of water in the province. Addressing the session, Siyal said that there was an acute shortage of water in the province as it was not getting its due share.
Siyal shouted out at PTI lawmakers sitting on opposition benches and said, “You should be ashamed of yourself for opposing the resolution on water crisis in Sindh.” The PPP minister also tried to attack the PTI lawmaker but he was timely stopped by his fellow PPP lawmakers.
On the other hand, MQM Pakistan member Mangla Sharma, while supporting the resolution, said “Why Sindh cannot get water, our crops will be destroyed due to lack of water,” Sharma added.
Mangla said that the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) did not have the courage to present a better position. Mukesh Kumar Chawla said that the standing committee in the National Assembly today agreed while the attitude of PTI was deplored. The House was adjourned till 2:00 pm on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) said that it had detected a water theft of 50 percent in the Sindh province between Sukkur and Kotri Barrages.
In a letter written to the provincial government to respond to their claim regarding less water being supplied to the province, IRSA said that 50 percent of water supplied is being stolen between Sukkur and Kotri barrages.
“Despite repeated requests, water is being allowed to pass under the Kotri Barrage,” said the body regulating water supply on Indus River while sharing that 52,000-acre-feet of water was allowed to pass under the barrage during a period from April 01 to May 22.
The IRSA in its letter said that from May 14, 16,000 cusec water is being supplied from Sukkur to Kotri barrage, however, only 50 percent of the water-8000 cusec- has reached the Kotri Barrage.
