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. He said they have received very beneficial recommendations which would help in developing proper water policy. 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. He said that 34,000 water courses have been strengthened and 16,000 more were being strengthening in Sindh. 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. He said previously Larkana’s water was very sweet but it should be probed how it became contaminated. Larkana Mayor, Aslam Shaikh said that if 100 percent water courses were strengthened then wastage of water should be stopped. He claimed that he has stopped throwing 28 sewage pipes water into Rice Canal and it was being discharged through alternate system. Shaikh said that due to increase in population water usage has also increased in Larkana. He hoped that drainage system of Larkana would be improved during 2018. Medical Superintendent Chandka Medical College Hospital, Dr Mahbood Shah said that he has got checked water of four different places of Hospital which have been found highly contaminated and by using such unsafe water deadly diseases were surfacing. He said irrigation system has been ruined due to which shortage of water was faced by tillers. He said it would be better if irrigation law was enforced to ensure equal distribution of water among users. He said in every 90 seconds one child was dying due to unsafe water. He said water issues surfacing during floods and dry season, Sindh government should adopt a clear policy. Thar Coal project also need water otherwise it will not be operationalized. In upper Sindh 40 percent water is stolen which should be curbed. Due to non-availability of water birds are also badly affected. Around 70 percent underground water has become arsenic due to which people are forced to use mineral water procured at high cost. Water management should be carried out on emergency basis to save precious lives. Published in Daily Times, February 1st 2018.