SIDA admits sewage contamination into sweet water

LARKANA: Chairman Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA), Muhammad Nawaz Chandio has said that sewage contamination into sweet water has affected underground water.
Addressing a consultative divisional workshop ‘Formulation of Draft Sindh Water Policy’ workshop he said SIDA was being run administratively under Water Management Ordinance 2002 and its primary objective was to improve the water system in Sindh.
He said the system is spread across the province over three barrages and small and large canals which were spread over 20,000 kilometers all over province.
Pakistan’s irrigation system is the largest system in the world and with passage of time it was felt to bring reforms in the irrigation system so that tail-enders get their due share of water.
Director Agriculture, Ayaz Abro said 142 million acre water was available in rivers out of which 104 million acre water was being used and rest was going waste.
He said 90 percent water of rivers was used for agriculture purposes and its usage should be according to principles of irrigating engineering.
He suggested holding of workshops for making awareness among growers about proper usage of water.
Managing Director, Water Improvement Sindh, Jamal Mangan said that water policy should be according to irrigation approach and distribution of water should be also be according to irrigation approach which should be justifiable so that growers at tail-end get their due share as well.
Larkana Mayor, Aslam Shaikh said that if 100 percent water courses were strengthened then wastage of water should be stopped.
He hoped that drainage system of Larkana would be improved during 2018.

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