It has been 13 years since the construction of the Chotiari Reservoir in Sanghar district,
It has been 13 years since the construction of the Chotiari Reservoir in Sanghar district, where 12 villages of herders and fishermen still face the threat of relocation because of increasing erosion eating away the fertile sand dunes, shrubs, and flourishing villages.
These villagers live inside the dam and have been doing so for generations. But since the construction of the dam, they have been forced to live on small islands within the dam. Since this reduced the grazing grounds for their herds, they have declared the small islands as their ‘estates’, where nobody from outside is allowed to encroach with their presence.
However, now it seems they will soon lose their lands, and will have to move from the area to other pastures for their as well as their animals’ survival.
It is not just the herders who are threatened by the situation. Fishermen are also under threat, as the soil erosion often results in landslides, blocking the traffic and landing sites inside the water bodies. They too would be left with no choice but to migrate to other areas.
Prior to being restricted to the islands, the villagers led a happy life. They had large herds to take care of and land that thrived with shrubs and fertile sand dunes. However, after the project, their villages were inundated and they were deprived of even the right to resettle elsewhere. The government, instead of moving them with their large herds to safer areas, abandoned them to fend for themselves.
Information gathered through the community shows a list of some major villages, including Abdul Karim Mallah, Sobharo Mallah and Saran Wari with 700 families, who might be further affected due to erosion, sooner or later. Even the population of a bigger fishermen locality of Phulel, comprising 250 households, is feared to get displaced because of losing their land route to the water.
Local fishermen said they have 1,350 small boats, operating in the dam area for livelihood. In case of displacement, these families will have no option but to migrate outside of the dam area. But unfortunately, most of the area outside and around the dam has been claimed by landlords for their use, which had created uncertainty within the communities. Presently, some affected families are shifting to their relatives, losing hope of livelihood sources.
Water erosion is eating away the fertile lands, vegetation and shrubs on the sand dunes, which were the sole source of fodder for animals. Increasing seepage all around, was also ruining soil fertility and poisoning the water bodies. The threat is being faced by not only the people and their animals, but local wildlife as well.
Local activists, recalling the past blissful days before the project was built, said a famous herder family of the time was Jani Hingoro that had 800 cows with larger herds of goats and camels about 30 years ago. They count more than 100 such families, who had hundreds of cattle heads, goats and camels, and were considered millionaires. The area locally known as Makhi forest, used to produce more quantity of milk, butter, honey and variety of fish for the local markets.
The dam, designed and finally completed in 2002 with foreign funding has not only caused seepage, ruining fertile lands, depleting green lands, and poisoning fresh water lakes, it has also threatened the locals to relocate, leaving behind their traditional occupations.
A research conducted by a team of Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) on the impacts of Chotiari reservoir on environment and livelihood resources in 2009 found that the project led to the destruction of environmental services, biodiversity, fertile agricultural lands, and sustenance of local population in the region.
At that time (in 2009) the reservoir area was still home to 33 species of small and large mammals, 109 species of birds, 58 species of reptiles and about 53 species of freshwater fish, the study showed.
But now a local fisherman, Ramzan Mallah says at least eight main commercial species have been wiped out from the reservoir water, while there are only a few smaller fish species left, which are not for human consumption.
This has significantly impacted the life of the fishermen community, who depend on the reservoir and some lakes for livelihoods. He too recalled how, about 20 years ago, more commercially important fish stock used to thrive, and people enjoyed a prosperous life.
He pointed out that increasing soil erosion along the reservoir has further put nearby villages at risk. Families are preparing to migrate to safer places because of this situation. He added that the loss of vegetation has disturbed the wildlife species due to the destruction of their natural habitats.
Ramzan recount local trees and shrubs, which have been rooted out by erosion. Not only did these shrubs and vegetations provide fodder and shelter to wildlife species, people too used to pick seasonal fruits for consumption.
The SAU report said the project generated significant ecological impacts and resulted in immediate and long-term socio-economic consequences on local communities, like farmers, fishermen, and herders.
The dam is extended to 24,300 acres with storage capacity of 750,000 acres feet. Before the construction of the reservoir, this site was home to clusters of natural and sweet water lakes, fed by the perennial Nara Canal, popularly known as 'Nara valley rich ecosystem'.
The Makhi forest was famous for its indigenous beehives and thick shrubs and trees, which used to be attractive grazing fields for hundreds of cattle heads. But the water project destroyed its ecology, pushing the 'millionaires' to sell their assets at half-price and move out of their abodes.
Mir Hassan Mari, a Sindhi folklore writer, who travels widely in the area, says Makhi forest used to contribute a lot to the economy of district Sanghar and other towns in the shape of supplying milk, butter, meat, honey, and fish, etc. He said there were famous cattle markets and fish markets, and traders used to depend on Nara valley products for grains, which have now disappeared.
The local communities used to barter their items like milk and butter for fish and grains. These items were said to be the currency for getting and fulfilling their needs at the time. But these people have lost this source.
People who have been affected, ask about the government owned land outside the dam that has been illegally encroached by the influential of the area. The local landlords are using the terrain for building fishing ponds. The community people dispute that since it is their right to have access to shelter and livelihood; the land outside the dam is the only way save their indigenous community and their traditional assets.
The community also demands rescheduling of water discharge in dams for different seasons. For instance, they say the water was released in the dam in October, November and December 2015, and now in January 2016 it will be taken through Baqar outlet to feed the lands in Umerkot district.
The writer is a staff member
