The Chief Minister of Sindh has declared Tharparkar as calamity-hit, where except for some initial drizzle it hardly rained in the current monsoon and resulted in famine-like conditions. The local population has started moving towards barrage area districts in search of food and fodder for their livestock. Out of 166 Dehs in Tharparkar, only nine are located in the area of a barrage while the rest of the 157 Dehs are in the desert where people mostly depend upon rains to feed themselves and their livestock. This year’s situation is worse than the previous droughts of 1968, 1979, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2007 as the August 2011 rain completely destroyed mud houses, killed livestock and damaged crops. That is why the people of Thar could not store food and fodder. Drought has also lowered the underground water level; almost all water reservoirs have dried up completely.
According to official sources, more than 500,000 to 600,000 people had to leave the area due to shortage of water and food to barrage areas for more availability of food and fodder. This would definitely affect the barrage areas, since they have been declared a calamity-hit zone too after last year’s flood. The situation is still not satisfactory due to the negligence of the Sindh government that has failed to provide relief and rehabilitation to the people struck by the 2011 flood. This will also affect the studies of children because of migration of families from Tharparkar.
Tharparkar is hit by drought after every two or three years, which increases malnutrition and poverty and spreads diseases in both humans and animals. Children and women are affected the most. Is there anyone in government to think and ponder over this recurring situation of Tharparkar? I request the federal government to look into the matter. This could only be possible if our rulers come out of their petty squabbles and begin thinking not as rulers but servants of the people.
DR SATRAM ROOPANI,
Mithi, August 26.