We often value things before acquiring or after squandering them. Same is the case with water, we will ascertain its significance when it will be no more. Terrorism, load-shedding, budget deficit, and corruption in Pakistan are the subjects that dominate the thinking of each citizen, the electronic media, and the government.
Yet, another problem that Pakistan is battling is the water crisis. An impending water crisis looms ahead of Pakistan, positioning it on number 3 on the list of countries facing severe water security according to the International Monetary Fund report.
To avert the impending water crisis, the Supreme Court is pushing to start the Diamer-Bhasha dam, for which the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) has requested the nation to donate funds.
These days funding for Diamer-Bhasha Dam has divided the masses into two camps; one camp favours the building of the dam, whilst the other side opposes the project claiming that public financing is not viable option, what the government needs is a comprehensive strategy to make the dam. Nevertheless, from a neutral perspective, it is a good portent that the CJP has expressed concerns against the water crisis, which is also supported by the Government and the Pakistan Army. The bulk of the population has answered the Apex Court’s call to donate funds for the dam, so far the dam fund has Rs 3.7 billion.
The only question is that only dam building will avert the water crisis? Pakistan at the moment is in desperate need of the dam and the apprehension of the CJP about water crisis is also appropriate. Prime Minister Khan also expressed a deep sorrow regarding the water crisis, and has requested the nation to take part actively in the funding of the dam.
A substantial part of Pakistan’s economy relies upon agriculture as it contributes about 24 percent to the GDP. Unluckily, this sector has not witnessed much advancement when it comes to the irrigation system. Archaic irrigation practices and uneven water distribution systems are the fundamental basis of this water-intensive economy
Apart from the dearth of dams, many other factors also contribute to water scarcity; the extravagant use of water, contamination of the water, outmoded irrigation methods, climate changes, the rundown state of the sewage system, and the rapid growth of urbanisation are the primary causes behind water scarcity.
A substantial part of Pakistan’s economy relies upon agriculture as it contributes about 24 percent to the GDP. Unluckily, this sector has not witnessed much advancement when it comes to the irrigation system. Archaic irrigation practices and uneven water distribution systems are the fundamental basis of this water-intensive economy. In the Report provided by the Burki Institute of Public Policy Netsol (BIPP), Chairman Shahid Javed Burki stated that the system loses about 60 percent of water during transfer from the canal head to the farm gate.
Use of water in household activities, whether washing utensils, clothes or taking a bath leads to its scarcity. Another reason for water scarcity is pollution. Our industries, don’t possess proper waste management systems, and they drain their waste into the freshwater. Along with this, the sewage system of Pakistan is also responsible for water scarcity. Without periodic renovation and maintenance, the sewage system has deteriorated, because of which sewage water gets mixed with freshwater. Urbanisation is yet another perpetrator of water scarcity. The rapid growth of urbanisation affects water resources, shrinking and ultimately diminishing its availability. Pakistan is ranked 7 on the index of countries suffering from climate change. This change in the temperature has decreased the amount of water in the rivers of Pakistan.
Therefore, along with the dam making scheme, the Government of Pakistan also should form water conservation policies. Agriculture specialists believe that by executing methods and strategies such as drip irrigation, a large quantity of water can be saved. Nestlé invested in drip irrigation on 68 acres in the year 2017, and saved up to 140 million litres of water. The Government of Pakistan also should transform the irrigation system into drip irrigation, by convincing landlords giving incentive to poor farmers.
Industries which drain their waste into fresh water, should be compelled by the government to dispose of it properly. Moreover, overhauling the defective sewage system is also inevitable, since leakage of water from pipes occur and it seeps into the surface of the earth, which causes water pollution and leads to scarcity.
Climate change effects water scarcity, so the government needs to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases as well as other gases that are responsible for climate change. Only by making dams, the water crisis won’t be averted. Comprehensive water policies and water regulation systems are also the need of the hour.
The writer is an electrical engineer who is also a CSS aspirant
Published in Daily Times, October 10th 2018.