‘India be restrained from building dams on Ravi, Chenab’

SUKKUR: Besides climate change and inability to build more reservoirs, Pakistan is also facing severe water shortages as India in violation of Indus Waters Treaty is building dams on Chenab and Jhelum rivers dedicated for Pakistan. These observations were made on the second day of the three- day international conference on water scarcity and sustainable agriculture challenges and solutions organised by the Department of the Geography Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur.Addressing the seminar, the Chairman Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority, Engineer Abdul Basit Soomro, said there is a threat of Pak-India war over water resources if the world and Saarc do not restrain India from building dams on eastern rivers meant to flow into Pakistan. India, he said, must be stopped from building Wullar, Baglihar, Kishanganga and Uri-2 Projects. He said if the shortages continue at the present pace, the Nara canal water could not reach the end users of water at Umerkot after 10years. Citing a UN report, he said Pakistan ranks 7th among countries facing acute water crisis. He said 153 MAF of surface water and 24 MAF underground water resources are available to the country now which will be reduced to only 33 MAF by 2025. Soomro said rapid depletion of ground water due to excessive pumping may soon worsen the water crisis in major cities causing a drought like situation. He said the quality of the underground water is also getting contaminated, causing widespread diseases. Dr Somroo said the SIDA has rehabilitated several canals, minors distributaries, while some work is still going on several water channels that will result in effective utilization of water resources.The chairman of geography department, Prof Dr Noor Hassan Chandio, said the world is facing water and food security issues due to climate change. Dr Chandio said the growers are undoubtedly facing serious repercussions from the water scarcity and suggested sustainable agriculture practices to prevent waste of water.Altaf Sial of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, said Indus Delta is the fifth largest delta and is on the verge of destruction due to intrusion of sea. He said as much over 52 meters Indus Delta is annually intruded by the sea and said the left-side of the Indus is far more vulnerable. Several other speakers and research scholars like Almas Kazi, Samreen Baloch, Nisar Khand, Amjad Maitlo, Ambar Baloch and Nasir Soomro highlighted the grim water scarcity situation in Sindh, Cholistan in Punjab and the remote hilly areas of Balochistan where agriculture and human health are severely challenged.

from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2TwTLYp