December 09, 2009
Call for rehabilitation of Jubho Lake stressed
Thatta Dec 9: The speakers at the stakeholders seminar on
rehabilitation of Jubho wetland have called for immediate release of
water to avert the human and ecological crisis. They said that people
of delta are facing twin menace including sea intrusion and lack of
fresh water. The seminar was organized by Sindh Rural Support
Programme in collaboration with Indus for All Programme of WWF
Pakistan at Jati town, district Thatta. Speaking on the occasion,
water expert from Sindh Rural Support Programme Prof. Mushtaque Mirani
said that non availability of water in Jubho has degraded the Lake and
numerous birds, fish and plant species has been disappeared. He said
that the Lake used to provide livelihood to surrounding villages
primarily through fisheries. Prof. Mirani said that non release of water in
Indus delta has affected the ecology as a whole and as a result
poverty has increased in Thatta and Badin districts. He said that
efforts are being made to link the communities with other
organizations, who are engaged in service provision. The Programme
Coordinator Indus for All Programme-WWF Nasir Ali Panhwar said that
wetlands are not on
the priority of water managers in the country. He said that despite
the signatory of Ramsar convention, wetlands have not been able to get
attention of policy makers. There is no single organization, which
caters to the management of wetlands. He said that wetlands in general
and Ramsar sites in particular have been degraded. He suggested that
management plan for Jubho and Nariri wetland complex may be developed
and water for rehabilitation may be ensured. He said that drastic
reduction of migratory birds is attributed to degradation of habitat,
which can only be rehabilitated with the availability of water and
addressing increasing pollution by sugar mills and other untreated
effluents. Zahid Ishaque Soomro said that seven Lakes have potential
of rehabilitation out of 23 major Lakes in the area. He said that most
of communities have migrated and remaining are deprived of drinking
water and other basic amentias. Nawaz Shaikh said that due to
increasing poverty, people of the area have developed psychological
ailments. Khuwaja Baksh Ali Shad said that Pinyari canal is highly
polluted by domestic and industrial effluent of Hyderabad, which is
causing havoc with the lives of people and wildlife species. He said
that provision of water is most pressing need of the area. Noor
Mohammad Tahemore said that due to cyclones and sea intrusion the land
has lost productivity and grazing pastures have vanished. Ghulam Abbas
Malkani, Wali Mohammad Jat, Azeem Rind, Fakhira Abro, Ashfaque Memon
and others also spoke.
For further information:
Muhammad Zafar Khan, Manager Communications and Environmental Education
Contact: 0300-3495901, email: zafar.hilbi@gmail.com
Badarunissa, Communication Officer.
Contact: 0312-3642817, arshi_mtunio@yahoo.com
