Experts call for increasing capabilities of water reservoirs

Speakers at a seminar said that like other advanced emerging economies Pakistan requires proper use of its available waste water resources after its proper treatment as it needs to enhance its food and fiber production by at least 50 percent to ensure food security.
They expressed these views while addressing the seminar organized by Pakistan Engineering Congress (PEC) in connection with World Water Day on the theme of Nature of Water. Chief Executive Officer WWF Hammad Naqi Khan chaired the first session of the seminar while the second session was chaired by chairman PCSIR Dr Shezad Alam.
They also said Pakistan with a fast-rising population cannot adequately meet its domestic agricultural and industrial water demand from surface water and ground water. Developed economies use approximately 70 percent of its waste water after its proper treatment.
They further said that extreme shortage of water has already developed in Karachi and Islamabad where drinking water is now being supplied to the residents by tankers. In Quetta, the groundwater table has gone down to unworkable depths and the quality of water in the aquifers under Lahore and Peshawar cities is fast getting polluted.
Gwadar is a rapidly expanding where demand for water is growing fast and the resources are limited. These issues are very important for the health and welfare of the inhabitants of all mega cities in Pakistan.
The speakers said that it has been projected that urban water requirement for 25 major cities of Pakistan would be 6.34 and 8.67 BCM, for year 2030 and 2050, respectively, against the current supply of about 4.0 BCM. Therefore, the current situation of increasing water demands, calls for integration of water demand and supply within and across all the water use sectors, in addition to the construction of large dams by the Federal Government. In this regard, to save the freshwater, the responsibility lies to every individual for optimal usage.
Engineer Abdul Khaliq Khan presented his paper on Water Needs of Capital Cities in Pakistan. He suggested that keeping in view the growing problems of groundwater and its consequences on the future of water supply particularly for Lahore and Quetta, the regulatory organizations need to enhance the monitoring of groundwater abstraction and lay restrictions on the abstraction of groundwater in critical areas.
In Lahore, for example, central parts of the city where a groundwater depression zone is being developed should be defined as a "groundwater protection zone" and pumping should be regulated. In Quetta the further expansion of tube wells should be stopped. Since groundwater plays an important role in economic development, the government needs to develop a strategy for long-term sustainability of this resource.
He also suggested that the importance of groundwater resources and the potential impacts of climate change on them should be discussed with all water users. Providing education and training to local communities about rainwater and runoff water harvesting for domestic use, agricultural use and for groundwater recharge will enhance the adaptation options to cope with current and anticipated future problems.
He called for evolving a long-term policy for sustainability of drinking water supplies. He said that the possibility of supplementing groundwater supplies with surface water supplies should be explored, wherever possible. For Lahore, provision of surface water supply from the River Chenab or BRBD canal system may be considered after addressing quality concerns. Similarly detailed designs and implementation of surface water supply schemes for Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Gwadar need to be expedited.
He demanded that work should urgently be carried out on Dotara Dam, Jabba Dam, Bara Dam and the Water Supply Link from Tarbela Reservoir to Islamabad.
He called for promoting the culture of water conservation. He also said that a metering system should be introduced to charge water on a volumetric basis. Water should be treated as an economic good and its exploitation rights be given through a proper permit system and compatible prices especially to the industrial sector. Industries can invest in treating wastewater at source and reuse it.
President Pakistan Engineering Congress Engineer Tariq Rashid Watoo said that Pakistan, where per capita water availability is approaching the stage of 'acute water stress. The country has only 30-days water storage capacity, a dismal scenario. India has 22-days potential and is further increasing it.
Watoo suggested that in order to adequately meet the challenges of water shortage Diamer Basha Dam, Dasu Hydropower project and Pattan Hydro power project.
He also suggested that federal and provincial governments should work on groundwater recharge in depleted areas like Bari Doab, Rachna Doab, upstream of Ravi River, Fresh Water Lake needs to be established up stream of River Ravi.