Impacts of tidal link drain, along the coastal areas of districts Badin and Sujawal in Indus deltaic region, Sindh Pakistan

Abstract

Tidal Link Canal has been one of the causes of seawater intrusion and coastal erosion along the coastal areas of Sindh Pakistan. The literature reviews, along with satellite images and tidal data were analyzed to investigate the causes and impacts of seawater intrusion along the coastal areas of Badin and Sujawal districts of Sindh. This study represents that seawater intrusion has taken place up to 70 km upstream from the mouth of Tidal Link Canal and about 2.95 million acres agricultural land has been affected by seawater intrusion. Meanwhile, on the basis of satellite data 30 m year-1 average erosion rate was estimated for the past 17 years in tidal link canal. However sea water intrusion and coastal erosion are have a devastating environmental and social impact along the Left Bank Outfall Drain site, thus the whole ecosystem of lakes is facing serious threat. The fresh water lakes as well as agricultural lands and ground water have been affected by seawater intrusion and coastal erosion. During the southwest monsoon, the neighboring sea in the south inundates vast area with salt water through tidal link drain. Extensive field investigations and a high resolution coastal ocean model are urgently needed for future study to fully understand the dynamic process in this coastal region.