According to a report by Reuters, the state government of Bihar in India is encouraging people to eat rats in an effort to battle soaring food prices and save grain stocks. The rate at which our population is growing, it is not inconceivable that before long, we too will be receiving advice along similar lines. The process is being hastened due to progressive depletion of grain supplies resulting from shortage of water for agriculture. The situation might have been different if one or two new dams had been built. But these were held up because of fears in Sindh of losing its share of water. A logical solution would be to guarantee Sindh that its share of water will never be reduced to less than what it receives at present, provided it agrees to the construction of the dam at Kalabagh which has proven feasibility and the earliest completion schedule. Surely, it is a better solution than making people eat rats? -K.H. ZIA, Lahore, via e-mail, August 19.