T HARDEEP R URAL D EVELOPMENT P ROGRAMME

(TRDP)

PUBLIC FORUM
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME
HELD ON JULY 03, 2006
AT UMERKOT, DISTRICT UMERKOT

ORGANIZED BY THARDEEP
IN COLLABORATION
WITH
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE (NDI)

THARDEEP RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (TRDP)

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Near Dargah Hussain Shah Siran, Mithi – 69230
District Tharparkar Sindh Pakistan
Tel: (0232) 261462 Fax: (0232) 261379
E-mail: info@thardeep.org
INTRODUCTION
Arid region is defined as a barren land lacking enough water for vegetation to
grow (Victoria and Grualnik, 1988). The major deserts and arid regions of the
world result primarily from global, or at least from hemispheric wind patterns, and
arise from the whole general circulation. Many aspects of meteorology are
pertinent to arid regions a few of them are unique to desserts (Cloudsley,
1976). Arid regions are characterized by low precipitation, which is usually
associated with considerable insolation. According to Cloudsley (1976), arid
regions can be divided into five types on climate basis. These are as follows:
1-Subtropical/ tropical deserts
2-Cool coastal deserts
3-Rain shadow deserts
4-Interior continental deserts
5-Polar deserts
Subtropical/ tropical deserts are largely the result of semi- permanent of high
pressure in the tropical regions, with which the air has the tendency to descend
form high altitudes towards the surface of the land. As it does so, it becomes
warmed by compressional heating so that it is hot, dry and completely incapable
of producing any precipitation by the time it reaches ground level.
Rain and thunderstorms of monsoon type, accompany the pole ward movements
of the intertropical fronts in summer ( Cloudsley,1976). The arid zones of Sindh
can be classified as subtropical deserts. These constitute significant portion of
the province and stretch over an area of 68000 km of the province (Table,1). The
arid region of the province is divided into three roughly even sized distinct
regions: -
i) The Thar region covers 23000 square kilometers with a human population of,
nearly 1.5 million souls (Census, 1998) This region is mainly in Tharparkar
district and extends southwards along the Ran of Kutch. Thar or Tharparkar
including Nara is the Sindh part of Great Indian Desert and is located between
24º - 28 North latitude and 67º - 71º east longitudes. The Thar and Nara regions
are region. The sand dunes in the Thar mostly run parallel. Thar range includes
area with a climate, which is described as arid in north and semi-arid in the
south. Humidity is fairly high in the marine zone while rainfall varies from north to
south. Poor rains are encounterred about every three years and a complete
drought once in every 10 years. The average range carrying capacity increases
immediately after rains but reduces to 7- 10 ha per five sheep (Ishaque, 1993)..
ii) The Nara region stretches over 22000 square kilometers and the upper portion
Nara region’s lies in Sukkur, Khairpur, Nawab Shah and Sanghar districts. Thar
and Nara regions, both are located on the left side of the river and form eastern
boundary of the province.

iii) Kohistan region covers 23000 square kilometers. Kohistan occupies 4 per
cent of the total landmass of the province and consists of parts of Dadu (90%),
Larkana (6%) and Thatta (4%). Ecologically, it is categorized as a tropical sub-
mountainous zone and is classified as a tropical maritime rangeland. Kohistan
lies along the western boundary between Sindh and Balochistan and extends in
the south along the delta area of the river Indus. Ecologically; the tract can be
categorized as a tropical, sub- mountainous zone and is classified as a tropical
maritime range land. These arid regions are generally categorized by sandy
tracts, barren mountains, rock out-crop, sand dunes, uncultivated sandy and light
soil plans and large tracts of rangelands. These arid areas form rangelands of
Sindh. Out of total area of 14.09 million hectares 9.28 m. hectares (Table,2) is
range (GOP, 1973). Nearly 11 per cent of population of the province lives in
tropical arid regions. The arid regions of Sindh represents 17 per cent of arid
area of Pakistan, where as Tharparkar alone constitutes14 per cent of the rain-
fed area of the country.

The central irrigated zone of the province is commanded by canal irrigation

(Fig.1), which mainly concentrate along both sides of the river Indus which flows
as the mid rib of the province. The canal-irrigated area is flanked on north
eastern side by Tharparkar and Nara deserts and on south western side by sub-
mountainous maritime ranges of Kohistan

§ Resources of the Arid Region

The resources of the arid regions are described as under:-
§ Soil resource
§ Water resource
§ Vegetation
§ Rangeland and range flora
§ Fauna
§ Livestock
Soil resource
The desert consists of vast expanse of sand ridges. The height of ridges is 60 –
90 m, locally 150 – 170 m. These ridges run parallel to each other and are
aligned parallel to prevailing south- west – north- east winds. They are spread by
valleys, both narrow and broad. Sand ridges make up 70 – 90 per cent of ridge
valley system, while the valleys account for the remaining 10 – 30 per cent.
Soils of sand ridges are invariably very fine sands, stabilized towards their
windward faces the leeward side. The sands facilitate deeper penetration of
rainwater. Therefore, only small percent of soil moisture is lost by evaporation.
The moisture enables a wide variety of xerophytic plants establish in these soils.
The soils are vulnerable to disturbance, particularly overgrazing, cutting,
uprooting, trampling and tilling.
Soils in intervening valleys are predominantly very fine sands or loamy fine
sands. At places, valleys collect runoff from rainwater, which is conserved in
wells for livestock drinking. In such valleys dry- land millet, sorghum and guara
are grown on conserved moisture. Small part of desert in extreme south – east
corner in Nagar Parkar area is occupied by a scatter of rocky hills and their
piedmont plains. The rock hills contain granite. The principal range namely
Karonjhar is 19km long and maximum height is 360 meters.

Terrain of Thar Desert can be divided into the following four physical zones: i.e.
sand dunes, valley, flat alluvial plains and hills.Most of the area is composed of
huge sand dunes and small inter – dunal valleys. These sand dunes locally
called Bhits run parallel to each other are oriented from north east to south –
west. The height of these “Bhits” varies from 50 to 500 feet. Many bear shrubs,
grasses and small trees, which are responsible for their stabilization, while others
support little or no vegetation.

Water Resources
In the province 24 percent of the area is irrigated by canals (95 per cent), wells (4
percent) and tube wells and other means. There is n shortage of drinking water in
irrigated area of the province except when canals are closed. However, arid
areas have 3109 and 25761 mud ponds locally called “Tarais” for storage of
rainwater in Thar (Ishaque, 1993). In most of the wells the water is brackish and
sufficiently deep to require emptying by animal power. During droughts the level
of wells may fall and the “Tarais” may dry up completely or become heavily
polluted and hazardous to health. In this situation on the herders have to walk
long distances to water their animals or migrate to other areas along with their
animals. Thar Desert lacks rain fed streams. However, there are a few streams in
Nargar area, which flow for few hour after rains. Few dams have been
constructed at some places on these streams to store rainwater for some time for
cultivation. Small quantities of surface water also collects in the southern part of
Mithi and Diplo near edge of desert and flows to Run of Kutch. Besides there are
a few springs in the hills in Nagar Parkar area.

The districts of Tharparkar and Umerkot, which are generally water scare,
received three continuous spells of unprecedented torrential rains in July and
August of this year. These heavy rains devastated houses, crops, and livestock.
These two districts share a long history of providing refuge to each other’s
communities in times of disasters as they are contiguous to each other and share
a common geography, language and culture. District Umerkot has acted as
safety net for Tharparkar in times of need because Umerkot has large areas of
irrigated lands, which produce enough food and fodder not only for the people of
the district, but for neighboring districts also. Once it rains in Tharparkar, Umerkot
farmers and landlords send their livestock to Tharparkar (where more fodder is
available due to the rains) to conserve fodder in their own area. Thus, the people
of the two districts have come to rely on each other, especially in times of need.
Since the current rains devastated both districts equally, people from the two
districts were not able to rely on the other district for refuge and relief.

Normally, Tharparkar and Umerkot receive their first monsoon showers at the
end of June. The showers recur at 15-30 day intervals till mid-September. The
average annual rainfall for Tharparkar and Umerkot for the period 1971-2000,
ranged between 225mm- 250 mm /year (Chhor Metrological station). However,
the rains in 2003 have been exceptional with Tharparkar recording 350 mm of
rain so far. The result has been flash floods in parts of Tharparkar and adjoining
districts. The pattern of rainfall had also been erratic with some areas receiving
heavy downpours and other places not receiving any/ much rains.

According to TRDP’s Household Economy Assessment Report,1 local

communities are more vulnerable to changes in weather patterns between June
and September because they are so dependent on adequate and timely annual
monsoon rains. By the time the monsoons arrive, crops from the pervious year’s
harvest have been largely consumed/ sold; existing seed stocks have been
depleted and new debts incurred for the coming harvest and other needs. The
rural dwellers of both district, most of whom are poor or very poor, suffer
devastation and misery if the monsoon rains are untimely or too little/ too much.

1
TRDP Household Economy Assessment Report: “Thar Desert Livelihood Zone” December 2004.
The Open forum on the “Water” started with the recitation from Holy Quran,
Soofi Jalal-ud-Din had the privilege to do so.

Mr.Ghulam Abass Khoso, Regional Manager, Umerkot welcomed participants

and briefed about the public forum. He said that public- private partnership is
very important for development activities; very fortunately we are enjoying good
relation with Local Government in the district, TRDP and District Government
carrying on many public infrastructures (safe drinking water) schemes in
collaboration. We have gathered here to discuss on drinking water- situation,
access to community, issues and solution. Mr Abass quoted the example of the
tube well installed by TRDP in the village of Somo Samoon and emphasized on
the exploration under ground water sources in the district.

KARIM BUX
Water is life, this is an open forum therefore we should talk very frankly. Water
scarcity has worsened the overall situation.

JUMAN DARBADAR
Mr. Juman appreciated TRDP for organizing such type of beneficial and
memorable events. Distribution of water is not fair in Sindh, we are at the tail and
don’t have drinking water for a longer period in a year. Political influence and
nepotism have made lives miserable; landlords are involved in water theft. The
Government should take steps to solve the problem and improve the
performance of water management department so that deprived people could get
their basic rights.

ABDULLAH ARISAR
Shortage of water has become the order of the day which is one of the
Government’s blessings to poor people. Mr. Abdullah said that the concerned
authorities should take care of poor people living at the tail.

ALI AKBER
I agree with all of the participants who have talked here on water issues. I would
like to add something more to it that the owners with 100 acres piece of land at
the top do get water but the owners who have 500 acres at the tail are badly
affected due to continuous shortage of water.

MAZHAR LAGHARI, NDI, ISLAMABAD

I welcome all of you. This forum is organized to discuss on water situation

however, water theft is low in Umerkot as compared to Nara and Salah Pat. Fair
distribution and correction and repair of water courses could improve the
situation. The concerned departments should take efforts to ensure the access of
safe drinking water to every household.

ZAFAR ALI
Mr. Zafar appreciated TRDP for organizing the forum. He said that TRDP should
come forward to carryout a survey of under ground water sources and initiate
desalination projects.

GHULAM MOHAMMAD MAHAR

There is water theft and ‘might is right’ culture prevails in Umerkot. However, it is
Syed Muzafar Hussain Shah always cares for poor farmers.

DHARAM DAS MALHI

The water problem is very pertinent, I am thankful to Thardeep Team for inviting
me to participate in the forum. Being the Nazim, UC Umerkot, I welcome all of
the participants and extend my special thanks to Kunwar Hameer Singh.

The agriculture production has decreased and the crop of Nara rice is no more
cultivated due to scarcity of water in Umerkot. The TRDP is taking efforts for
providing water schemes in the area. However, still a lot of hard work is required.
We should join hands to complement each other so that community could get
benefits.

ABDUL- HAQUE ARISAR

Scarcity of water has weakened the economy in the district. Gone are those days
people would say ‘ordinary landlords of Umerkot rank equal to Navabs of Nara.’
Mr. Arisar said that the rulers are not making justice with poor people. He
suggested for following the path of Hazrat Umer.

ALI AKBER RAHIMMON

Deficient planning and poor water management have been major reasons for
scarcity of water. A suitable water policy should be made and implemented. A fair
distribution of available water should be ensured.

ABID CHANNA
The Vice President, World Bank has appealed for saving and proper utilization of
water sources. Under ground water resources would soon be run short because
of installation of a number of tube wells in many districts in Sindh.
In Sindh 12 and 88 percentage of available water is for drinking and agriculture
purposes however, we don’t have water policy at district level. Water
management is needed to be improved from top to bottom.

HAMEER SINGH, DITRICT NAIB NAZIM

I welcome all of the participants and appreciate them for sharing views in the
forum. I am thankful to TRDP management for inviting me. Undoubtedly, there is
a severe scarcity of water in the district of Umerkot.

Eleven canals have been dried in Union Council, Pithoro. Water distribution
system should be managed properly; there is no shortage of water in our country.
TRDP is doing very good work in Tharparkar and Umerkot; I acknowledge the
leadership qualities of Dr. Sono Khangharani head of the organization.

During the year 2006-2007, the District Government, Umerkot in collaboration

with Thardeep will install a hand pump in every household.

Current Situation

After a two year drought, Umerkot and Tharparkar districts received their first
spell of monsoon rains during the first week of July 2006. TRDP collected
readings from its own system of recording rainfall installed at various locations,
including Mithi, Chachro, Islamkot, Diplo, and Umerkot towns. (Table 1) provides
information on rainfall levels in these towns recorded during the months of July
and August.

Table 1 Rainfall levels recorded in July & August 2006 Umerkot district

Total for
Town July August 10th -25th Aug 22nd Aug 23rd Aug
July & Aug

Umerkot 135 mm 386 mm 519 mm 363 mm 68 mm 144 mm

Source: TRDP

Unprecedented rains in the entire area of District Tharparkar and Districts

Umerkot started on 15th August 2006 and ended on 25th August 2006.
According to the information gathered from the Pakistan Meteorological
Department and other sources, different locations of the area have received
about 350-550 mm rain during these ten days. The highest amount of rain was
recorded on 22nd and 23rd August 2006. On 23rd August, Chachro received 125
mm of rain and Umerkot received 144mm of rain in a single day. This spell of
heavy and consecutive rainfall during the last half of August is responsible for
much of the devastation in the Tharparkar and Umerkot areas.

The heavy rains have played havoc with the day to day life of the people of the
area and considerable damage has occurred to houses, crops and cattle. People
have suffered damage to adobe huts, crops and livestock in more than 80% of
Chachro and Umerkot talukas and thousands of families have lost their homes
and sought refuge in safer places. Of 22 villages surveyed, the roads in and
around 15 villages could not be used for travel for seven days in August after the
torrential rains.

Annex-1
Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP)
Human Resource Development
Local Government Programme (LGP)
National Democratic Institute (NDI)

OPEN FORUM
Topic : Safe Drinking Water Date : July 03, 2006
Time : 1700 hrs Venue: Umerkot
Please make it sure our check list takes some importance features into accounts as the
following sample indicators and allocation of responsibilities
S# Description Responsibilities
1 Invitations to; Ghulam Abbas Khoso
- Government Officials and NGOs
- Local Government, Notable and Media
2 Arrangement of Training Hall; Noornisa and Committees
Generator, sound system, Decoration, Stage
arrange, Stationeries and Chairs
3 Banner in Sindhi Nasarullah / Jalal Jani
4 Poster in Sindhi will stick on Public Places Noorunisa / Committees
5 News in Local Newspapers about the Public G. Abbas & Noorunisa
Forum before one day covers date, time and
venue
6 Registration and facilitation Noorunisa& Committees
7 Report in Sindhi Sikiladho/ Committees
8 Video and Photography Shahdev Doongrani
9 Nominate / select the leader / president of forum G. Abbas Khoso
10 Stage Secretary Noorunisa & Nasarullah
11 Draft Press Release Sikiladho / Jalal
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