Experts warn against gradual decline in water lands

Experts warned on Thursday about the mounting threats to wildlife and other rare water species including blind-dolphin due to gradual decline of water lands across the country.
They urged the government for early legislation to arrest the increasing pollution in order to conserve water and protect the human, wildlife and water species, besides creating awareness amongst the masses particularly in the rural segments.
Teachers and students, at the two-day Pani Pakistan Capacity Building Workshop from June 20 to June 21 was organised by the Pani Pakistan National Consortium at a local hotel. Expressing sheer displeasure over the pathetic attitude of government failed to chalk out a plan to protect the diminishing water reservoirs to protect the wildlife and human.
During deliberation at the workshop, several issues were raised including preservation of water, electricity generation through water, construction of dams and their effects on human and river species. They were of the considered view that electricity crisis was self-created and public interest should not be damaged by constructing irrelevant dams, suggesting that many other ways could be used for cheap electricity generation including coal, and windmills to meet the existing and future power demand.
Participants criticised the government for creating issue out of none as construction of Kala Bagh Dam, which would bring about displacement of about 0.3 million people living at the Indus Delta. Such move will also eliminate the inhabitants of the migratory Siberian birds at the banks of Indus River they expressed fear.
"Increasing use of pesticides, insecticides and high ratio of pollution which are the threats to water land in the country, therefore a proper legislation is required to let the water lands thrive," they elaborated. Syed Tipu Sultan, President Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) expressed concerns over the dwindling water lands in the country, saying that future conflicts were envisaged amongst the countries on 'water' a primary source for life.
Urging the students and participants, he said that water should be conserved also for future need, besides protecting the wildlife, and other living species in the water lands and above all the human being.