Karachi
National Assembly Sub-Committee on Environment Convener, Marvi Memon, has said that the Indus Delta is a significant ecological system, and 10 million acre feet (MAF) downstream water of Kotri bridge is important to curb sea intrusion in the delta. She was speaking at the World Wildlife Funds (WWF) Indus for All programme office in Keti Bunder, Thatta.
Memon said that the sea has invaded about 1.2 million acres of fertile land in Thatta, and that more studies are required to document the current damage. She stressed the need to make all efforts to avert the crisis and save the remaining delta.
She said that socio-economic conditions of the people of Indus delta have been badly affected, as the sea intrusion has not only affected the ecology of the area, but people have also been deprived of their livelihood. She said that the fast-depleting mangrove forests would cause further degradation of this fragile eco-system.
She urged the banning of illegal fishing nets, as poor fishermen are being deprived of their only livelihood. She announced that a grant of Rs5 million from her MNA fund, which would be allocated for development schemes in Keti Bunder and Manchar Lake areas.
WWFs Indus for All Programme Coordinator Nasir Ali Panhwar highlighted that the Indus delta, being a Ramsar site, is home to a variety of fish, agriculture, livestock, mangroves, and is an abode of more than two million people. He added that receding water in Indus and increasing sea intrusion had caused resource depletion, which has left less opportunity for the area people. He said that all districts in Sindh, and those of the coastal belt in particular, should have a proper land use plan which is supported by legislation. He said that development work should be allowed under this plan to avoid depletion of precious land resources.
Panhwar suggested that the Indus delta rehabilitation programme should be initiated through an independent body, focusing on the revival of lost species, protection of environment, resettlement of people with opportunities of livelihood and long-term coastal zone management. He further said that the committee should recommend release of10 MAF water downstream Kotri immediately, while a rapid programme of social services including education, water supply and sanitation, micro credit, health, disaster preparedness and essential infrastructure should be initiated.
Indus for All Programme Keti Bunder Site Manager, Zahid Jalbani, informed the meeting about different initiatives being undertaken by the programme, including socioeconomic and ecological assessments, development of livelihood and natural resource management plans for the area. He said that a vocational center for women has been established in Keti Bunder, while provisions for wind and solar energy and mangroves rehabilitation have also been undertaken.
The committee was briefed about the rehabilitation projects activities, such as construction of thatched hut houses, provision of water tanker boat, fixed fiber water tanks and repair of fully damaged boats.
Earlier, the committee members visited the village Tippan in Hajamaro creek, where they observed the degradation of the delta. They also visited various initiatives of the WWF such as mangrove plantation, solar and wind energy system, women vocational centre and met the community to get insights about the problems being faced by them.
Member National Assembly (MNA) Tayyab Hussain, who is also a member of the sub-committee, was present at the occasion.
Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=164645
0 comments:
Post a Comment