Wildlife, water species in danger due to shrinking water-lands

Experts have warned about the mounting threats to wildlife and other rare water species particularly in the Indus Delta due to gradual decline of water lands across the country.
They urged the government for early legislation to arrest the increasing pollution to conserve water and protect the human being, 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, expressed 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 beings.
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 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 government for creating issue out of none issues 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.
The aftermath of usage of pesticides, insecticides and other such hazardous chemicals which is on the rise in the country, the experts pointed out that such practices should early be stopped at once in the greater interest, people and animals were feared to suffer the most in future. "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.
Teachers and students also criticised the government for not providing health facilities on hygienic standards, they observed that government run hospitals lacked all basic facilities for the public. Some of them suggested the adoption of Islamic principals to make the society dirt-free.
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 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.
He regretted over the mismanagement of the water undeliberately being done by the people, suggesting a thorough awareness campaign was badly needed to let know of the masses about the water conservation and its significance.
Tipu observed that tap water in big cities of the country particularly Karachi and Lahore was lethal for human life and full of contamination was also causing stomach disease to the people. He called on masses to take precautions particularly using tap water. He said 'prevention of water is our salvation.'
On the occasion, teachers, students, representative of NGOs were present, Tipu Sultan was the chief guest of the session, who also gave away shields amongst the participants of the workshop. ICI, manager corporate communication public affairs, Khehkisha Awan was also present at the concluding session of the workshop.