THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNCULTIVABLE LAND TO CULTIVABLE LAND

I have already mentioned above that in Sindh the following land has remained un-cultivable. a) The area of 5000 Sq. Miles under mountains and hills b) The area under Desert and sand dunes of 13100 Sq. M.c) The area under delta 1500 Sq. Miles which could be increased to 3000 Sq. Miles. In 1954 the Sindh Government had appointed an agricultural commission, which after the deliberation on the subject had recommended the following scheme: i) That in the hilly and mountainous areas small dams should be constructed and the adjoining area be irrigated. For this purpose, government had created a project department that had recommended the following schemes, which were to be financed from Sindh Government's funds. ii) Dadu Dam project in Mahal Kohistan which would have cultivated in Kharif, 11000 Acres. The estimated amount to be spent on the project was Rs. 3869000/. The rainfall within 200 miles was to be collected. In this dam 1400 million cubic feet of water was to be collected and a total of 16570 acres was to be cultivated. The net income from the project was to be Rs. 196454 /= iii) Darvat Dam Project was to be constructed on Barren River at a distance of 8 miles from Thana Boola Khan. That would have supplied 461 Cusic of water in Kharif and 46100 Acres of land were to be irrigated. 100 Cubic feet water was to be supplied in Rabi season and its estimated cost was Rs. 8723000 /= over one thousand Sq. Miles was to be commanded by this project. 5726 Cubic feet water was to be stored in this dam. From where 5110 Cubic feet water would have been available for cultivation. 69130 Acres were to be cultivated under this scheme. Rupees 840965 /= would have been its net income.iv) GAJJ RIVER PROJECT This darn was 20 miles above Johi town. Total estimated amount on that project was Rs. 12450000/-. The water was to be stored from 2000 Sq. Miles rain fall. Its gross command area was two lakhs and its cultural command was 170000 acres. It was to irrigate 85000 Acres, 65000 acres in Kharif and 17000 Acres in Rabi. Its net income would have been 805384A Rupees. v) SANN NAIN PROJECT This darn was to be constructed 20 miles above Sann village. Total estimated cost would have been Rs. 13760000/-. It would have been completed in two years time. In which 105 Sq. Miles rain water would have been collected. Its gross command area was to be 15000 Acres. Annually 61 Cusics water would have cultivated 73600 Acres land in Kharif, 383 feet million cubic feet would have been collected there. vi) BHAL PROJECT: This project was 10 miles in South West Karachi. Its total estimated cost would have been Rs. 3650000/- it would have been constructed in one year's time. Its gross command area was 3~400 acres land. The cultivated area would have been 30720 acres. In Kharif it would have irrigated 16360 acres of land. From this scheme the net income would have been Rs. 1322671- It would have contained 40 millions Cusics of water. vii) ANGAI NAIN PROJECT: This nain is at a distance of ten miles from Manchar Lake. Its total estimated cost would have been Rs. 2468000/- it would have collected 170 Sq. Miles water. In its dam 556 million Cusics feet water would have been collected. Its gross command area would have been 30700 acres and would have irrigated 10000 acres annually. Its net income would have been Rs. 1460751- viii) NAING RIVER PROJECT: This project was 10 miles South West from Manchar Lake. Its estimated cost was Rs. 2553200/- it would have collected 250 Sq. Miles rain water. Its gross command area was 32000 Acres, annually 16600 acres would have been cultivated from this project. Its net income would have been Rs. 160471/- ix) JUNGSHAHI AND RANPATANI RIVERS PROJECT: These rivers are near Thana Boola Khan Landhi, Karachi, Kotri area. This would have collected rain water within 700 Sq. Miles would have been collected. The expenditure would have come to 81 lakhs of rupees. The water was to be 2600 million cubic feet. Its gross command area would have been 150000 acres. It would have cultivated 50000 acres annually. Its net income from the scheme would have been Rs. 4713701 /= x) MAZRANI AND DELAN PROJECT: Its estimated cost was Rs. 82,00,000/- it would have commanded 750 Sq. Miles water of rainfall. The total water was to be 2860 million cubic feet. Its gross command area would have been 110000 Acres. Annually it would have cultivated 55000 Acres. xi) OCHIO BHARNI RIVER PROJECT: Its estimated cost would have been Rs. 2555000/- it would have commanded 300 Sq. Miles rainfall water. The total water was to be 974 million cubic feet. Its gross command area would have been 25000 Acres. It would have cultivated 14000 Acres annually. Its net income would have been Rs. 1 17386/= xii) BA RAN NAIN DISE VIRIH BUND PROJECT: It would have commanded 450 Sq. Miles rainfall water. Its estimated cost would have been Rs. 40,00,0001. Its gross command area would have been 75000 Acres. Annually cultivated area was to be 22570 acres. The total collection of water would have been 1462 million cubic feet. Its net income would have been Rs. 219147/- xiii) BHANDHI NAIN PROJECT: This is on the North South of Manchhar Lake. It is in the East of Angal River. 325 Sq. Miles rainfall water would have been commanded. Its estimated cost would have been Rs. 3650000A Its gross command area would have been 60000 acres. Its cultivated area would have been 4000 Acres. In Kharif 16156 acres would have been cultivated on it. Its total collected water would have been 1056 million cubic feet. Its net income would have been Rs. 2l472l /=. These all schemes were prepared and ready to be implemented from the funds provided by Sindh Government. But the Pakistan Government on the mollified advice of Punjab government and the One-Unit government spent it in Punjab. On the other side Punjab was indebted to the tune of 100 crores of rupees which was to be borne by this willfully acquired money from Sindh. Pakistan, which was considered to be a boon for Sindh, actually became the slave and exploited country. Every Sindhi curses the day when Sindh became a part of Pakistan and prays for the end of its subjection and slavery in achieving its independent status