THATTA: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday condemned federal government`s controversial six canals project in unequivocal terms and also rejected opposition`s propaganda against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and his government over the issue.

He was addressing PPP leaders and activists belonging to Thatta and Sujawal districts at Mohsin House here on the first leg of his Sindh-wide tour. He said he had undertaken the visit under special instructions of PPP Chairman Bilawal BhuttoZardari. He said he started the tour from Thatta and Sujawal because people ofthese districts had the first right on the Indus.

`It is an internationally accepted principle that lower riparian and t ail-enders have the first right on the river(s) flowing through their territory,` he said.

He firmly reiterated that he would not accept any initiative at any forum that could undermine Sindh`s rights. The new canals project or any other such initiative would not be accepted under any circumstances, he added.

CM Shah criticised the previous caretaker government for taking a decision on Jan 17, 2024 to approve Punjab`s canals project through the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) despite objections from Sindh.He said the 1991 Water Accord mandated a minimum flow of 27maf (million acre-foot) downstream Kotri to protect the Indus Delta, and slammed Irsa`s claim of 7maf going waste as `misleading`.

Mr Shah declared that no dam or canal that could curtail Sindh`s water share would be allowed to be built. He asked the federal government and Irsa to uphold their constitutional responsibilities instead of affixing rubber-stamp on any project without realising its legitimacy.

The chief minister also hit out at certain mainstream media outlets for spreading false narratives to favour Punjab on contentious issues.

Development projects CM Shah discussed a number of development schemes carried out or being executed in the two districts.

He said that the prime objective of his tour was to collect input from party workers and general public on various issues so that their proposals could be incorporated in the next provincial budget.

He announced that each district of Sindh would be given development schemes worth Rs5 billion.

He said district-level development committees would be formed within the next 15 days to undertake physical survey of union councils and identify therequired schemes. These committees, comprising elected representatives and notables, would collect proposals for such schemes.

Regarding the mega housing project for 2022 flood victims, the CM pointed out that no fewer than 2.1 million houses were being built for them.

He said that the ThattaSujawal road would be dualised under the public-private partnershipmode. Severalmajorprojects for the two districts were in the pipeline, he added.

The chief minister also appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to prioritise theSukkur-Hyderabad Motorway to ensure regional connectivity.

Sindh PPP President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro told the meeting that party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would address a huge public rally to be held in Hyderabad on April 18.

`Our party chief will highlight the alarming situation arising out of drying Indus and propose measures to overcome the looming crises,` he said.

He accused the Punjab chief minister and her government of silently pursuing the controversial canals project. He declared that Bilawal would not allow any such project to be executed likehis mother and slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto did in the case of Kalabagh dam and other such projects.

He warned that federal government`s controversial plans could lead to a conflict between Sindh and Punjab, and called for shelving all such initiatives.

The meeting was attended, by ministers, lawmakers and other party leaders including Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, Sadiq Ali Memon, Shafgat Hussain Shah Shirazi, Ayaz Shah Shirazi, Riaz Hussain Shah, Nasir Hussain Shah, Rehana Leghari, Heer Soho, and others.