Munir Ahmed
Like many other parts of Pakistan, Balochistan is also experiencing water scarcity with the changing climate. Since late 1990s, many districts of the province suffered from dry-spell that had created a drought-like situation. For groundwater mining, thousands of tubewells were installed that resulted over-extraction of water. Now, the ground water level has gone as low as the pipes touch the stones-layer.
The experts term the situation alarming. If the indigenous water management systems are not revived it is feared even the urban population in the main districts of the province would be suffering in the near future. Quetta, the provincial capital, would be no exception. Rather, it may be the first one to severely suffer from the water shortage.
The experts at a seminar Thursday stressed for immediate steps to revive the Indigenous Water Management Systems (IWMS). The consultation was arranged by the IUCN-Pakistan to showcase its recently concluded project about the revival of Karez, the indigenous water management system in Balochistan, and to develop way forward.
The seminar was opened by Shah Murad Aliani, Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan who shared his memories of karezes in Balochistan which later dried up due to mushroom but unsustainable growth of tubewells.
Hamid Sarfraz, Programme Coordinator, IUCN Pakistan gave a brief overview of IUCN and its water related initiatives and projects, including the Water and Nature Initiative and the Balochistan Partnerships for Sustainable Development, both funded by the Netherlands government.
Ghulam Mohayuddin Marri, Member (Infrastructure), Planning Commission of Pakistan was highlighted the importance of water and Karezes being a sustainable water management technique, especially in a water-scarce country like Pakistan. Marri appreciated the IUCN’s work and stressed on a collaborated approach for the future projects. He also assured of government’s support in up-scaling of karez rehabilitation.
Irfan Ali Bakhtiari, IWRM Coordinator, IUCN Pakistan informed the participants about IUCN’s rehabilitation efforts in Balochistan’s Pishin and Ziarat districts. He talked about various types of karezes and how the pilot rehabilitation efforts. The included the high quality UPVC pipes in the tunnels after an extensive cleaning of debris in the clogged shafts. “Some of these Karezes have been giving water for more than 200 years, like a mother nurtures her child,” he added.
Documentaries emphasising the urgent Karez rehabilitation were also screened at the seminar. Produced by the IUCN Pakistan, the films have been directed by award-winning filmmakers Maheen Zia and Umbreen Butt.
Haji Nasrullah Khan and Gohar KhanTareen represented the local communities from Balochistan. They explained the benefits that the farmers are being able to reap from better water management by increase in crops’ yield. “Women in our area are quite happy since they had to travel huge distances. Now they have clean water available near our houses,” added Haji Nasrullah Khan.
Dr Shahid Ahmad from NARC presented possible potential and options for revitalising the karez system. He explained that the karez can be a reliable source of water without impairing its quality or quantity and can function during the drought period as well. He described different techniques involved in sustaining the karez system including watershed management, floodwater harnessing, water diversion, management, and plantation of trees and shrubs.
The way forward was discussed and explained by Dr Pervaiz Amir, an agro-economist. He talked about involving the private sector through an integrated development model. He also elaborated on an agribusiness model and that the best science should be employed on indigenous knowledge and new technology.
Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Head IUCN Islamabad Office, was of the view that in the fast declining watercourses we need to rely on the reviving and improving the indigenous water management systems not only in Balochistan but in other part of the country. “We have demonstrated the successful interventions, not it is up to the authorities to come up with the long-term planning to face the fast decreasing precious source – the water.”
BALOCHISTAN is the largest province of Pakistan (in order of area) but the least populous and the most under-industrialised due to harsh climactic and topographic conditions. About 70 per cent of the total population of the province is dependent upon agriculture and livestock to earn their livelihood, hence, is highly dependent on availability of water. In the absence of dependable surface water (the rivers being ephemeral in nature), the communities have to depend heavily on the meagre and scanty groundwater resources.
Consequently, there is heavy withdrawal of groundwater, which far exceeds the natural recharge to aquifers. Besides negatively impacting the poverty and livelihoods, the situation is extremely precarious and is slowly leading to ecological disaster and irreparable damage to diverse and rich biodiversity of the province. Except a few districts in the south of the province, which are irrigated by Indus water, the entire province is characterised by drylands, though varying in extent. In the remaining parts of the province, a traditional system of water management has been practiced since centuries, to which karezes are of pivotal importance.
Karezes are underground tunnels with vertical shafts for ventilation. The tunnels are laid on natural gradient for conveying water from the mother well located at the foot of mountain to the day light point from where it is finally distributed in open channels for different uses including domestic and agriculture. Karez is the traditional and age‐old practice of water tapping and conveyance and is quite useful, convenient and easy to operate, as it does not require energy for pumping from the source to the command area. Figure below shows a typical cross‐section of a karez.
Published in daily Dateline Islamabad, December 23, 2011
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