Country Director
World Bank
Pakistan

Country Director
Asian Development Bank
Pakistan

Signature Campaign against Dissatisfaction over action plan and demand for full reparation to LBOD affected communities.

We the requesters of NDP inspection claim, farmers, civil society workers, journalists, affected communities and other concerned citizens of Pakistan would take this opportunity to express our dissatisfaction over the content and implementation of management action plan prepared to address the issues raised in inspection panel report. The project created several social, economic and environmental problems in Badin and Thatta districts of Sindh Pakistan. The management plan was rejected by the requesters as well as communities because it has not addressed problems identified by the affected communities. However, the faulty management plan is even not implemented yet. In two separate meetings of social movements and civil society organizations held at Karachi and Badin on July 06 and 08, 2007, we have articulated our demands for the long term solution of problems, sustainable development and provision of justice to the people affected by LBOD project. We demand from World Bank, Asian Development Bank and government of Pakistan that:

   1. Every district is responsible for the disposal of waste it generates, thus LBOD project was wrongly designed to transport waste from distance. It has now proved that project has incurred huge economic, social and environmental losses to the coastal areas of Badin and Thatta. It is demanded that LBOD spinal drain should be closed before entering into Badin district. Till the arrangement to dispose the upstream effluent is made, entire effluent coming through spinal drain should be diverted to Dhoro Puran Outfall Drain (DPOD)

   2. Tidal link should be disconnected from Kadhan Pateji Outfall Drain. Since tidal link is a main source of brining sea water to inland areas in Badin, it must be closed at shah Samando creek and protection Bunds should be constructed from Jati to Ali Bunder to protect the villages. The depth of tidal link has increased tremendously and during the high tide the sea water with high velocity is not just intruding from surface but it has been mixed with ground water and damaging agriculture land and creating desertification.

   3. World Bank and Asian Development Bank must compensate people who lost their lives in 2003 flood, whose houses were damaged and crops destroyed. Coastal communities are bearing this loss since 1994, there must be an independent commission to assess the loss to lives, livelihood, environment, and species since 1994 to 2007 and all the losses must be paid to communities for revival.

   4. World Bank and Asian Development Bank should write off entire loan of LBOD project. There is no moral and economic justification of paying the loan of a totally failed project. The entire amount must be spent on the rehabilitation of the affected people and environment in collaboration with local government and communities.

   5. Project has affected several biologically significant and ecologically important Dhands including two Ramsar site. World Bank, Asian Development and government of Pakistan immediately initiate a comprehensive plan for the restoration of these wetlands. It must be ensured that sea water is not entering into wetlands as well as kotri barrage surface drains are not draining industrial waste into Dhands. The death of Dhands came after the collapse of choleri weir.

Immediate Demands

   1. World Bank in collaboration with district government and affected communities must initiate a livelihood development plan for the affected area. The coastal development project mentioned in action plan is inadequate, people have no say in it and it has not started after the 4 years of 2003 devastation. The comprehensive plan should cover but not limited to following areas:
 

1. Revival of Agriculture 

2. Improvement in fishing and provision of fishing equipments

3.  Promotion of livestock and dairy development

4.  Income generation activities including short term employment generation

5.  Long term plan for revival of education and health facilities

6.  Provision of safe drinking water

   2. Preparation of comprehensive disaster preparedness plan in collaboration with affected communities and provide necessary support for the implementation of plan.