QUETTA  - While adjudicating a plea seeking review over Uch Canal, which has been dry since long, the Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Friday sought a comprehensive report from people at the helm of affairs in the matter.

Under the Canal and Drainage Act, 1873, the provincial government is responsible to use and control for public purposes the water of all rivers and streams flowing in natural channels, and of all lakes, and other natural collections of still water.

Appearing before a two-member bench of the Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Abdul Hameed Baloch on behalf of the petitioner, Advocate Khurshid Anwar Khosa contended that Uch Canal, wherein water is flowing form Shahi Canal Sindh, remained dry for a long period. He further submitted that it was not maintained by the concerned department, saying during that period certain breaches were made in the canal.

He apprised the bench that the land owners of upstream diverted their waste water in the same which was hazardous for the agriculture lands as well as people of the area. 

“Presently Uch Canal is being used for drainage water whereas proper de-silting for Uch Canal has not been made for a long period,” the petitioner counsel submitted. 

After a brief hearing of the matter, the bench said in its order, “Learned Advocate General Arbab Muhammad Tahir assisted by Secretary, Irrigation and the concerned officer requested for an opportunity to get the relevant updates and to submit a comprehensive report”. 

Accepting the plea of the government officials, the bench granted them sufficient time to come with comprehensive report in the matter and adjourned the hearing till September 23, 2021. 

 BHC directs for provision of drinking water in Dera Allahyar 

Water scarcity in Dera Allahyar has increased miseries of the local residents who are running from pillar to post but no one is paying heed to resolve the issue of scarcity of drinking water in the vicinity.  

A petition over the claim has been filed in the Balochistan High Court, stating that Dera Allah Yar city dwellers are facing acute shortage of drinking water and there are issues of water supply to the inhabitants of the city. 

Appearing on behalf of petitioner in the matter before a divisional bench of the Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Abdul Hameed Baloch on Friday, Advocates Muhammad Saleem Lashari and Rahib Buledi informed that two ponds have been constructed for supplying drinking water to the inhabitants of Dera Allah Yar city. 

They apprised the court that the source of filling those two water ponds is the water of Qaidi Shakh, Sam Shakh as well as drainage water of water logged / salinity lands and both the ponds are not converted. They submitted that the water containing chemicals is not filtered due to which the health of the inhabitants of Dera Allah Yar city has badly been damaged whereas 80 percent of the population is suffering from Hepatitis B & C.

After hearing the contentions of the petitioner’s counsel that currently Dera Allah Yar city dwellers are not receiving drinking water and passing through miserable condition, the bench issued directives to Public Health Engineering and Irrigation departments to take immediate measures in the matter. The bench directed them to ensure provision of drinking water to the inhabitants of Dera Allah Yar city and to submit a progress report on the next date. Later, the hearing was adjourned till September 23.