Home / Environment / Indus Delta Disappearing: A Looming Threat
Indus Delta Disappearing: A Looming Threat
2 Sep
Summary
- Indus Delta is drying, eroding, and sinking due to lack of freshwater.
- Book launch highlights delta's ecological devastation and livelihood crisis.
- Delta's degradation poses risks of flooding and sea intrusion to Karachi.
The Indus Delta, a vital ecosystem supporting communities and agriculture, is facing severe degradation. Insufficient freshwater and sediment flow have led to its drying, erosion, and sinking, making coastal areas of Thatta, Sujawal, and Keti Bandar increasingly uninhabitable. This crisis impacts traditional livelihoods and has been highlighted during the launch of the book 'The Disappearing Delta: Ecological Devastation and Imperilled Livelihood in the Indus Delta' by water expert Naseer Memon.
Mr. Memon explained that the delta's decline began with British-era irrigation projects in 1859 and has worsened with subsequent dam construction. He criticized the notion of river water reaching the sea as 'wastage,' emphasizing its necessity for the delta's ecological balance and calling it a natural right. The book launch also drew attention to the social consequences, including multidimensional poverty in affected districts.
Experts warned that the loss of mangroves and escalating seawater intrusion not only devastates the delta but also heightens Karachi's vulnerability to flooding and climate-related threats. The issue is increasingly being recognized not as a provincial concern for Sindh, but as a national ecological challenge affecting Pakistan's overall prosperity and requiring collective action from federal and provincial governments.
