07/01/2025
Seminar on Controversial Canal Construction on the Indus River Held at SSDP House, New Jersey
The Sindh Skills Development Program - SSDP hosted a significant seminar at its New Jersey house to address the contentious construction of six new canals on the Indus River. The seminar was chaired by senior advocate Sayed Ghulam Shah, with Barrister Akhtar Hussain A. Jabbar Shaikh as the honorary guest. The event brought together members of the Sindhi community to discuss the implications of these projects on the region’s water rights and agriculture.
In his address, Barrister Akhtar Hussain A. Jabbar Shaikh emphasized the urgent need to modernize Sindh’s irrigation systems, particularly through the adoption of advanced techniques like drip irrigation. He underlined the importance of increasing Sindh’s influence on current administrative bodies to achieve meaningful outcomes. He suggested that instead of merely addressing federal authorities, Sindh should focus on strengthening its case at local and provincial levels to ensure fair distribution of Indus River water.
Sayed Ghulam Shah, while providing historical context, highlighted the longstanding injustices faced by the people of Sindh concerning water rights. He pointed out that three rivers were ceded to India under the Indus Waters Treaty, leading to the construction of link canals to divert Indus River water into these rivers. This diversion, according to Shah, was a betrayal of Sindh’s interests, as it prioritized the fertility of lands along these rivers at the expense of Sindh’s own agricultural and drinking water needs.
On the issue of the six new canals, Shah revealed that 50% of the construction work had already been completed without the consent of Sindh’s people. He warned that the continued construction of these canals would result in devastating consequences, including seawater encroachment, a reduction in arable land, and a severe drinking water shortage. “
