BRIEF ON

BRIEF ON

DROUGHT AFFECTED AREAS

THAR, KOHISTAN AND KACHHO

AREAS OF SINDH PROVINCE

BOARD OF REVENUE, SINDH
GOVERNMENT OF SINDH
MAY 2000

INTRODUCTION

Relief For The Drought Affected People Of The
Desert Area Of Thar And Arid Zone Of Kohistan

BASIC FACTS

The Thar region of Sindh is the largest desert area of Sindh with sub-Saharan conditions. It extends from the coastal area of the Runn and Kutch along the southern border with India to Sukkur covering an area of 19000 square kilometers. Kohistan area starts from the north of Karachi and moves along to Balochistan. The total area of this region is about 13,000 square kilometers. The following are some of the basic facts:

Total population affected directly is 1.30 million

An additional 0.3 million have moved towards the irrigated areas of Sindh in bad times when water is also scarce

The entire area is a large pocket of poverty with 95% of the population below the poverty line

There are 2664 human settlements currently affected by prolonged drought conditions

Historically, rainfall follows a cyclical pattern. Droughts in the last three decades occurred in 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1993 and 1996.

More basic facts are attached as Annexure "A".

LOSSES

Losses reported so far includes loss of 127 human lives largely due to natural causes accentuated by malnutrition and related problems. If the nutritional support as well as medical preventive/curative (specially Anti T.B) is not extended fully there is apprehension of speedy increase in the loss of human lives.

A total of about 30, 000 animals are known to have perished out of an estimated livestock population of 5.0 million. As water and fodder availability continues to decline, livestock fatalities are also, likely to increase.

Relief Measures Already Undertaken By Government
of Sindh Which Need To Be Continued

The Government of Sindh started its relief operations in September 1999 to provide emergent relief to the drought affected areas even before it started adversely affecting the people in the Thar region. Immediate measures were taken to strengthen logistics support, provide drinking water and materail supplies and extend the relief cover to a large part of the affceted area. The support already provided includes:

Declaration of the Thar region as calamity affected area with effect from 27^th November, 1999 covering the Thar region (Kohistan and Kaccho regions were also declared as calamity stricken on 26^th April 2000.
Free distribution of wheat and rice was immediately undertaken.
Clothing, blankets, medicines, and other articles were dispatched to the area and distributed to the affected population.
Remission of land revenue.
Postponement of recovery of past years Government dues.
Distribution of wheat at subsidized rate of Rs.500 per 100 kg (compared to market rate of Rs.1000) on a scale of 20kg per household per month for two months as an interim urgent relief. This wheat was delivered through 197 relief centers established in the Thar region.
Government of Sindh has also provided Rs. 215 million cash grant for drought affected areas of the province, including Rs. 50 million from "Zakat funds" to cater to the urgent financial needs of drought affectees at the rate of Rs. 1000/-per family.
A total of 73 medical teams established camps in the region and provided medical aid to about 30,000 people. Anti Tuberculosis drugs to some extent have been provided to the detected cases.
A pilot project of free Lungar (cooked food) has also been launched and this relief programme is to be extended further keeping in view the results of the project.
In order to save livestock, 30 teams of veterinary personnel were dispatched to cover the area and provide treatment to protect the livestock wealth of the area, which is the major means of livelihood for the people.
Free distribution of fodder.

Details at Annexure "B".

In order to alleviate the sufferings of drought affectees, a Full Scale Emergency relief Plan has also been prepared initially for tow months.

The Plan consists of a major thrust to continue and upscale the existing activities and cover the entire affected region. The Emergency Plan therefore, comprises of 5 main components, namely:

Food supply
Fodder supply
Drinking water supply
Medical cover
Livestock protection

The costs of full scale operation in the area to provide safety net to the affected people, based on the above components, is estimated at Rs. 1.641 billion for two months.

Summary is at Annexure "C"

LONG TERM PLAN

A three pronged strategy to make the benefits of the plan to flow to the common persons.

Special programme to provide quality skills to the people, primary health care, rural water supply and sanitation and intensification of an employment generation programme will be launched.

Infrastructure comprising water supply schemes, a communication system connecting main human settlements and providing for vital links to exploit the mineral resources of the region which includes granite, coal and white clay.

Income generation on a sustainable basis.

The details of schemes is identified to implement above long term plan is attached as Annexure "D" & "E". The total costs implication of these schemes is as follows:

ROAD SECTOR

Ongoing schemes completion cost Rs. 336.835 Million

(Thar and Umerkot)

New schemes (Thar and Umerkot) Rs. 1578.000 Million

New schemes (Dadu and Thatta) Rs. 987.000 Million

Total Rs. 2901.835 Million WATER SECTOR

New schemes Rs. 1095.992 Million

Total Rs. 1095.992 Million ____________________________

Grand Total Rs. 3997.827 Million

Say Rs. 3998.000 Million

Annexure A

DROUGHT AFFECTED AREAS IN SINDH

THAR REGION

District Dehs Villages Population
Affected
Livestock Affected

Tharparkar
159
(166)*

1895
(2085)**

0.89
(million)

3.00
(million)

Umerkot
25
(234)*

316
(1066)**

0.15
(million)

1.00
(million)

KOHISTAN/KACHHO AREA

District Dehs Villages Population
Affected
Livestock Affected

Dadu
35
(525)*

453
(4420)**

0.26
(million)

1.00
(million)

Total
219

2664

1.30
(million)

5.00
(million)

Note:

*Total numbers of Dehs in the District.
**Total number of Villages in the District .

Annexure "B"

Relief Provided in Financial Terms

Nature of Relief	Financial Implication in THAR region	Financial Implication in Kohistan/ Kachho Area
Past year Government dues for one year	Rs. 4.00 (million)	Rs. 0.23 (million)
Remission of Land Revenue and Cesses	Rs. 2.00 (million)	Rs. 0.05 (million)
Wheat provided at the subsidized rate of Rs. 5/-Per kg @ 20 kg/family/per month)	Rs. 20.00 (million)	Rs. 25.00 (million)
Food items distribution in Sep/Oct 1999	Rs. 6.60 (million)
Cash grant for purchase of Food ration, fodder etc.	Rs. 190.00 (million)	Rs. 25.00 (million)
Pilot Lungar Project	Rs. 1.00 (million)
Total	Rs. 223.60 (million)	Rs. 50.28 (million)
Grand Total		Rs. 273.88 (million)

Annexure "C"

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT FOR TWO MONTHS

ITEM	THAR	KOHISTAN/ KACHHO
1. Free distribution of ration items including transportation charges) Annexed at (C1-3)	Rs. 720.00 (million)	Rs. 144.0 (million)
2. Processed feed (fodder) annexed at C-4	Rs. 300.00 (million)	Rs. 25.0 (million)
3. a) Digging of wells for supply of drinking water b) Repair and maint- enance of SAZDA tube wells for drinking water annexed at C-5	Rs. 22.0 (million) Rs. 20.0 (million)	Rs. 3.0 (million) Rs. 5.0 (million)
4. Logistic Support annexed at C-6	Rs. 10.0 (million)	Rs. 2.0 (million)
5. Medicine/health* cover (human lives) annexed at C-7	Rs. 350.0 (million)	Rs. 10.0 (million)
6. Veterinary cover/ medicines annexed at C-8	Rs. 22.0 (million)	Rs. 8.0 (million)
Total	Rs. 1,444.0 (million)	Rs. 197.0 (million)
Grand Total		Rs. 1,641.0 (million)

ANNEXURE - D

A - ROAD SECTOR ON-GOING SCHEMES:

DISTRICT THAR AND UMERKOT

#          Name of Scheme                  Cost in Million             Fund required for for completion                           Target
                                                                                                    of the Schemes
                                                                                                    during 2000-2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Const: of Road from Umerkot Rs. 200.38 62.766 100%
to Chachro via Kantio (69kms)

2. Const: of Road from Umerkot Rs. 108.217 100.856 100%
to Chachro via Ratnour (100kms)

3. Const: of Road from Mithi Rs. 94.881 21.000 100%
to Islamkot (32kms)

4. Const: of Road from Diplo Rs. 160.952 104.413 100%
to Islamkot (70 kms)

5. Const: of Road from Diplo Rs. 121.088 47.800 100%
to Ali Bunder (60 kms)

--------------- -----------------

TOTAL:- A) RS. 685.518 RS. 336.835

--------------- -----------------
By construction of the following new roads, it will create job opportunities for the people of the project areas, resulting in employment of man power 999,000 man-months. This will also minimize the migration trained during drought condition and enhance the prosperity of the people.

B - NEW ROAD SECTOR SCHEMES:

DISTRICT THAR AND UMERKOT TOTAL COST PROJECT PERIOD

1. Const: of Road from Jalo-jo-Chaunro Rs. 93.00 Mil. 3 Years
to Rantnour (31kms)

2. Const: of Road from Chachro Rs. 66.00 " -do-
to Mubarak-jo-Tar (20kms)

3. Const: of Road Chachro Rs. 118.00 " -do-
to Khensar (36 kms)

4. Const: of Road Khensar Rs. 132.00 " -do-
to Ratnour (40 kms)

5. Const: of Road Chachro Rs. 132.00 " -do-
to Ratnour via Virari (40 kms)

6. Const: of Road Chelhar Rs. 79.00 " -do-
to Kantio (24 kms)

7. Const: of Road Islamkot to Rs. 244.00 " 5 years
Nagarparkar via Virawah (105 kms)

8. Const: of Road Wango to Rs. 158.00 " 3 years
Diplo via Khetlari (48 kms)

9. Const: of Road Naukot to Rs. 181.00 " 3 Years
Dilpo (55 kms)

10. Const: of Road Chachro to Rs. 363.00 " 5 Years
Virawah via Dano Dhandal (110 kms)

---------------------------- -----------------

TOTAL Kms 478 TOTAL:- B) RS. 1,578.00 "

---------------------------- -----------------

DADU AND THATTA DISTRICT TOTAL COST PROJECT PERIOD

1. Const: of Road from Tong Sharif Rs. 90.00 Mil. 3 Years
to Karchat (30kms)

2. Const: of Road from Mole Rs. 78.00 " -do-
to Sari (26kms)

3. Const: of Road Wahi Pandhi Rs. 75.00 " -do-
to Chinni (25kms)

4. Const: of Road Thano Ahmad Khan Rs. 105.00 " -do-
to Thano Arab Khan (35 kms)

5. Const: of Road Dhamach Rs. 75.00 " -do-
to Sari (25kms)

6. Const: of Road Thano Ahmad Khan Rs. 216.00 " 4 Years
to Toung Sharif via Ali Murad Bareio(72kms)

7. Const: of Road Thano Ahmad Khan Rs. 189.00 " -do-
to Karchat via Thano Arab Khan (63kms)

8. Const: of Road Jungshahi to Rs. 84.00 " 2 Years
Malmari (28kms)

9. Const: of Road Malmari to Rs. 75.00 " -do-
to Super Highway (25kms)

---------------------------- -----------------

TOTAL Kms 329 TOTAL:- C) RS. 987.00 "

---------------------------- -----------------

G. TOTAL FOR ON-GOING (A+B+C):- RS. 2,902.00 "
AND NEW PROPOSEDSCHEMES PACKAGE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ANNEXURE - 1

LONG TERM INVESTMENT PROGRAMME:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO. Water Sector PROJECT TIME PERIOD RMKS:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Drilling/Installation of Rs. 15.000 12 months PC-I submitted to P&D Deptt.
10 Nos Tube Wells in Kohistan Region

2. Constructing Delay Action         Rs. 29.845                 24 months                     Concept clearn.
Dams, Small Dams, Recharge                                                                                paper attached.
Gabion Dams in (upper Kohistan)                                                                          PC-I prepared in
                                                                                                                            1990-93

3. Constructing Delay Action Rs. 161.969 36 months -do-
Dams, Small Dams, Recharge
Gabion Dams in (lower Kohistan)

4. Constructing Delay Action Rs. 98.828 20 months -do-
Dams, Small Dams, Recharge
Gabion Dams in (Central Kohistan)

5. Constructing of 15 Nos Recharge Rs. 24.950 12 months -do-
Gabion-Dam in N.P.Kar area of
Thar Region in Sindh Arid Zone

6. Drinking Water Supply through     Rs. 55.000                     -do-                                     -do-
    Pipe line from Pokhan Dhoro to
    Surrounding villages (25 Kms)

7. Drinking Water Supply through        Rs. 14.200                 -do-                                         -do-
    Pipe line from Parche-ji-Wari to
    Dudhrio (07 Kms)

8. Drinking Water Supply through     Rs. 161.000                 24 months                             -do-
    Pipe line from Umerkot to Jalo-
    Chanro and adjoining village (70 Kms)

9. Introduction of Drip Irrigation Rs. 10.000 12 months --
System in Thar and Kohistan Region

10. Community Based cactus             Rs. 15.000                 36 months                                 -
    plantations in Arid Zone of
    Sindh

11. Drilling/Installation of                 Rs. 98.750                 24 months                         Concept clearn.
    50 Nos Tube Wells                                                                                                paper attached
    in Thar Region (Northern Thar)                                                                              PC-I Prepared
    (through hired Rigs)                                                                                                 1990-93

12. Drilling/Installation of                 Rs. 98.750                     -do-                                         -do-
    50 Nos Tube Wells in
    Thar Region (Southern Thar)
    (through hired Rigs)

13. Drilling/Installation of Rs. 98.750 -do- -do-
50 Nos Tube Wells in
Koh: Region (Lower Kohistan)

14. Drilling/Installation of                 Rs. 90.000                     -do-                                            -do-
    50 Nos Tube Wells in
    Koh: Region (Upper Kohistan)
    (through hired Rigs)

15. Drilling/Installation of                 Rs. 98.750                     -do-                                             -do-
    50 Nos Tube Wells in
    Koh: Region (Central Kohistan)
    (through hired Rigs)

16. Feasibility Study for Construction     Rs. 15.000             12 months                                         -do-
    of Gaj Dam for drinking &
    Irrigation purposes in Kohistan Region

17. Feasibility Study of Thar Canal Rs. 10.000 12 months -do-

-----------------

TOTAL: RS. 1,095.992

-----------------

District	Dehs	Villages	Population Affected	Livestock Affected
Tharparkar	159 (166)*	1895 (2085)**	0.89 (million)	3.00 (million)
Umerkot	25 (234)*	316 (1066)**	0.15 (million)	1.00 (million)