A safe environment is prerequisite for healthy life. Major environmental
issues currently confronting Pakistan include water, energy, pollution and
waste management, salinity and water logging, irrigated agriculture,
biodiversity and climate change. Pakistan being one of the most urbanized
countries of the region is facing overall deterioration in all these areas.
Environmental hazards have become a major global issue in of this century.
Rapid economic development and manmade interference to the natural systems are
the main reasons behind this problem. To address this issue, the initial step
is to monitor the extent of these hazards.
Water
Crisis in Pakistan and its remedies
SOURCES OF WATER
God has blessed Pakistan with abandoned water resources,
with water flowing down the Himalayas and Karakorum heights, from the world’s
largest glaciers, a free and unique bounty of nature for this land of alluvial
plains. As a result of this natural resource, today we have the world’s
marvelous and the largest irrigation system that irrigates over 16 million
hectors of land, out of 34 million hectors of cultivable land available.
Basically we have two major sources of water i.e. surface water & ground
water.
SURFACE WATER
In surface water we have three hydrologic units. First one is Indus Basin
River.
(a) Indus Basin River
At the time of independence, we had about 67 maf water available for diversion;
this amount increased to about 85 maf by 1960. In 1960 Pakistan signed a water
treaty “Indus water treaty” with India, which brought major changes in the
sources of water for Pakistan. In that treaty the right of three eastern rivers
i.e. Beas, Sutlej and Ravi was given to India. Now the Indus river basin
constitutes of the mountain basins Indus plain, Karachi plains and desert areas
of Sindh. Its principle rivers and tributaries are Indus, Shyok, Gilgit, Astor,
Siran, Kabul joined by Jhelum, Chenab and Sutlej. It covers an area of 516,600
sq. km. its source of water are snowing, glacier melting and rainfalls. From
this annually 141.67 maf of water is being received.
(b) Closed basin Kharan desert
It consists of areas of mountain basins of Quetta and basins of tributaries
draining in to Kharan desert. its main rivers are Pishin Lora, Baddo Rakhshan,
Mashkhel and many other streams. It covers an area of 120,100 sq. km. its main
sources of water are rainfall and nominal snow. Here we are getting
approximately 4.5 maf of water.
(c) Makran coastal basin
Makran coastal basin constitutes of streams of Malir, Hub, Porali, Kud, Hingol,
Nai, Mashhai, Dasht, Nihing and Kech. It covers an area of 122,400 sq. km and
its main source of water is rainfall. From this basin 0.78 maf of water.
Now coming towards groundwater sources.
Ground water:-
The Indus plains constitute about 34 million hectors (over 85 million acres) of
cultivable land. The recharge or absorption to the ground is around 72 maf, out
of which about 48 maf is in the command of Indus basin irrigation system (ibis).
Ground water is also found in some rain-fed (barani) lands and inter-mountain
valleys at depths varying from 100 to 200 feet.
After pointing out the main sources of water, let’s have a glance of the water
available to us through them. We receive an average of 141.67 maf of water from
western rivers. Eastern rivers contribute 8.47 maf of water. About 4 maf of
water is received from outside Indus plains. Water available above rim stations
is 5.28 maf whereas rainfalls below rim also contribute about 14 maf of water.
Also about 66.89 maf ground water is available to us. In other words a total of
240.22 maf of water is available to us from the present sources.
For controlling the water resources and for its effective utilization lets have
a glance at the present storages and its capacities.
Water reservoirs / capacities:-
Pakistan is having three basic reservoirs, namely mangla dam reservoir, Terbela
dam reservoir and Chashma barrage reservoir. more small reservoirs like Warsak,
Baran dam hub, Khanpur, Tanda, Rawal, Simly, Bakht khan Hamal lake, Mancher
lake, Kinjhar lake and Chotiari lake Arealso included as small storage. The
storage capacity of these reservoirs is as shown on the view foil.
I shall be discussing only the major reservoirs only.
(a) Terbela dam reservoir
World’s largest earth and rock filled dam was built at Terbela on river Indus
in 1976 with a gross capacity of 11.62 maf and a live storage capacity of 9.68
maf. With the passage of time, due to silting, 24.6% of the storage has been
lost and now it has a live storage of 7.295 maf.
(b) Mangla dam reservoir
Mangla reservoir is the second major storage of Pakistan. It was built in 1967
on river Jhelum with a gross capacity of 5.882 maf and live storage of 5.41
maf. Again due to siltation it has lost 13.2% of its storage and presently can
store 4.636 maf of water.
(c) Chashma barrage reservoir
Chashma barrage is situated on river Indus and was built in 1972 with a gross
storage of 0.870 maf and live storage of 0.717 maf. It has also reduced its
storage capacity by 39.3% and is left with a storage capacity of 0.435 maf.
UTILIZATION OF WATER
In Pakistan we utilize the water available to us for different purposes. The
basic utilization is for irrigation and then used for power generation,
drinking and also provided to some Industries.
(a) Irrigation
Out of 240.22 maf, 172.21 maf water is utilized for irrigation purposes as
shown on the view foil. In this the canal diversions is 105.23 maf; system
loses are 144-40; rainwater is 6.0 maf; ground water is 41.30 and utility above
rims is 5.28 maf.
(b) Power generation
Water released by the hydropower plants returns to the river system. The
reservoirs are operated on priority bases only for irrigation. Recent increase
in thermal generation has reduced the potential conflicts between water
releases from reservoirs for hydropower generation and irrigation. Now most of
the annual storage is utilized for irrigation and not for hydropower, but
conflicts do arise at times.
(c) Drinking
Most of the rural and urban water is supplied from ground water through tube
wells and hand pumps except few cities like Karachi and Islamabad/Pindi. Total
urban and rural (domestic and commercial) requirements estimated is 10-15% of
the surface water, out of which 80% return to the system, however with degraded
quality. Net consumption is normally about 2% of the total water available.
(d) Industry
Water is also utilized in Industries basically for cooling purposes and also in
manufacturing processes. This utility is less than 1%.
Shortage of water
As we all know that now a days our country is facing severe shortage of water.
There are two main reasons, one natural due to prolong drought---which is
beyond the control of a man, and the other due to the gross negligence in the
development and mis-management of water resources. The average annual inflow of
the Indus and its tributaries is i41.67 maf, of which 97% is used in
agriculture and the remaining 3% for domestic and Industrial purposes. Out of
141.67 maf, around 106 maf is annually diverted in to one of the largest but
in-efficient irrigation system. The remaining 36 maf goes into the sea unused –
a total loss --. Out of 106 maf, diverted into an extensive irrigation net
work, more than 50% is lost during the changeling and the field application
before it reaches the crop root zone.
In the years when the rainfall is normal or above, the country generally does
not face any water shortage, where as in below average rainfall period it does.
This has happened just few weeks earlier. i was sitting with secretary irsa, in
connection of my vision, and he said that they are reducing the quota of punjab
and sind by 5% because of no rains and that the level of mangla has gone below
dead level. After three days i was again with him and he said that now we are
increasing the quota of all the provinces, because we are in happy situation
due to present heavy rains and snowfalls. The planners, it is assumed, are
responsible to foresee and carry out effective water resources development and
management planning to meet the future challenges. However, sadly this is not
practiced which ultimately lands the state into such uncalled situations.
Impact on economy / society
As I said earlier that agriculture is our backbone and the water flowing in the
channels to the crops is its blood line—and if there is no or less water then
we should be prepared for facing problems economically as well as socially.
According to the estimates of federal government, the agriculture sector would suffer
a loss of about Rs. 90 billion because of drought. Since agriculture has
remained a major source of shouldering the already crippled economy, it has a
vital role to play particularly in terms of food security and employment of the
ever-burgeoning population of the country. It contributes around 35 % to the
gnp and employs about 44% of labor force. It also contributes 65% of our export
earning. The adverse effects of water shortage on agriculture would have a
spiraling effect on the prevailing level of poverty.
(a) Less water means less agricultural yields and to fulfill the food
requirements of the nation, we will be dependent on other countries.
(b) Raising livestock is the main source of livelihood of rural areas. it is
also an important economic activity, which contributes 9.7% of gdp, will be
affected due to shortage of water.
(c) Orchards of pakistan bring home a healthy amount of foreign exchange, which
can be affected due water shortage.
(d) Due to less production of main crops, which are wheat, cotton, sugar cane
and rice, the Industries related to them will suffer adversely.
(e) Then due to drought and more dependency on ground water for irrigation, the
water table will go down, and this will cause water constrains to the
population.
(f) Less agricultural outputs will compel people to head towards urban areas
for jobs, which will increase the unemployment further.
(g) The distribution of water is controlled from the center by irsa (Indus
river system authority) as per 1991 agreement between the provinces. Now the
shortage of water will cause disputes between the provinces, which may cause
harm to the national integrity.
Analysis
Pakistan is one of the poorest countries of the world, where as on the other
hand it is one of the richest in its population increasing capabilities. Our
population has surpassed the 140 million mark by now and is still increasing at
an alarming rate of about 3%, which definitely needs to be checked. On the
other hand the growth rate of agriculture is decreasing due to water shortages.
To keep up the pace of agricultural growth comparable to population growth, we
must bring additional lands under cultivation. in order to achieve the required
growth targets in agriculture, we needed an estimated amount of 149 maf in 2000
and will need 215 maf year 2013 and about 277 maf by year 2025. this scenario
warns that pakistan has already has slided from a water happy country to a
water scarce country in 1994 and already shortage of over 40 maf persists,
which may increase to a shortage of 108 maf and 151 maf by years 2013 and 2025
respectively. This water shortage has been threatening the federal structure of
the country. Our reluctance to treat water as an economic good and inadequate
recognition of the environmental concerns associated with current practices
have led us towards this catastrophic situation. Further more its remedy is an
urgent one, otherwise it could trigger water riots and finally lead to social,
if not political, catastrophe. Since no additional water is available, it is
the time to recognize our responsibilities and start taking steps in the right
direction.
So for overcoming the water crises following steps are recommended
Recommendations
The national water strategy must be based upon two essential elements covering
- Water developments
- Water management
The water development strategy is
largely based upon construction of new storage reservoirs where as the water
management strategy will help in reducing the present losses.
Water development
In this construction of following dams should start immediately:-
(a) Chasha dam
It would be located 200 miles upstream of terbela on river Indus. its gross
storage capacity would be 7.3 maf and live storage 5.7 maf. Its power
generation capacity would be 3360 mw.
(b) Kalabagh dam
Kalabagh dam site is located 132 miles down stream of Terbela. Its gross
storage would be 6.1 maf. It would have a power generation of 3600 mw. Here I
shall further suggest that the construction of Kalabagh be under taken only,
once all the provinces are convinced and willing to cooperate.
(c) Thal reservoir
It would be located on the right bank of Chashma – Jhelum link canal, along
the western bank of river Jhelum. Its reservoir would have gross capacity of
2.3 maf.
(d) Raised Mangla dam
in this the present Mangla dam would be further raised by 40 ft and thus
increasing its gross capacity to 9.5 maf. In addition, its power generation
capacity would be increased by 15%.
(e) Mirani dam
The dam is located on Dasht River about 48 km of Turbat town in Mekran
division. Its main objective is to provide water for irrigation. Its gross
storage is 0.30 maf.
(f) Gomalzam dam
It is located at Khajori Kach on Gomal River in South Waziristan, about 75
miles from Dera Ismail Khan. Its main objective will be to irrigate 132000
acres of land, power generation of 17.4 mw and flood control.
From these projects we shall be able to store additional 20maf of water.
Water management
Managing water resources is the need of time, and we in Pakistan already short
of water, must chalk out a strategy. In this endeavor can be made to save
around 1.3 maf of water from existing losses. following is recommended in this
regard:-
- Presently the losses occur due to seepage, infiltration
and leakages etc. seepage results in water logging and these losses can be
reduced or eliminated by lining the canals.
- In addition, people should be educated to conserve
water by cooperation.
- Further more government should make laws on water
conservation, like many western countries.
- The second largest contribution to the total water
available comes from the groundwater sources. This source has been
exploited and very well used by public and private tube wells. It can
still provide over nine maf of water. This source can be exploited and
judiciously used for irrigation purposes. How ever in some areas ground
water is rapidly depleting due to excessive pumpage, authorities should
take control in such areas to save them from depleting.
- Efforts be made to convert the present rotation based
irrigation system to demand oriented system.
- The modern irrigation techniques, that is trickling,
sprinkling etc, which have a potential to improve water distribution and
its utilization.
- Authorities should take appropriate steps to curb the
illegal extraction of water and ensure its equitable distribution.
- Presently irrigation department has failed to stop the
illegal theft and extraction; thus irrigation distribution system needs to
be privatized through water user associations.
- In addition, water, now-a-days is supplied to farmers
at a very negligible cost and that is why they do not treat water as a
precious resource; therefore there is a need to increase the water prices
to make irrigators realize the importance of this asset.
- Farmer’s organizations, water user association, and
private sector be involved in construction, operation, and maintenance of
the irrigation system. Such associations are conceived as a mechanism for
creating a cooperative frame work for improvement of watercourses.
Conclusion
The problems faced by the water sector in the country are many, acute and
serious and it is also known that we can generate about 83 maf of more water.
Therefore, building of more reservoirs and an effective management strategy are
the needs of time. Also implementation of the recommendations will enable the
country to meet the challenges, and achieve the objectives of integrated,
efficient, environmentally and financially sustainable development and
management of limited water resources. At the same time it will enable us to
utilize every drop of our water for our bright future.
The Institute of Space Technology (IST), Karachi Campus in collaboration
with National Space Agency (SUPARCO), organized a Five Days short training on
Integrating Ground Based Methods and Spatial Techniques for Environmental
Monitoring, from 24-28 October, at its National Centre For Remote Sensing and
Geo-Informatics Karachi, for sensitizing the above mentioned issues. The
Institute of Space Technology, established in year 2002 offers graduate and
undergraduate programs in a number of specialized fields of engineering and
science. The objective of this course is to train various stakeholders in an
area where integrated approach utilizing geospatial and ground based monitoring
techniques are required to address environmental issues.
Recent advances in application of Satellite Remote Sensing (RS) for
environmental monitoring have provided the capacity to acquire the needful
information at spatial and temporal scales. Through integrating Remote Sensing
data with ground based data, an advanced approach to study environmental issues
are now possible. SUPARCO has been actively promoting uses of space science and
technology for the socio economics uplift in the country as well as in the
Ummah. Its research and application programs cover remote sensing for earth
resources and environmental studies.
The course was inaugurated by Imran Iqbal, Member Space Applications and
Research of SUPARCO. A number of participants hailing from brotherly Islamic
countries are participating in is course.
This training program encompassed a number of areas such as Environmental
Issues (both local and Global), Environmental Monitoring and Impact Assessment,
Introduction to Satellite System and their Application,
Satellite Based Environmental Monitoring, GIS for Water Resources using
hydrological, model Arc Hydro (ESRI Software), Snow and Glacier Monitoring and
Modeling, Environmental problems of Pakistan and their Solutions (success
stories by environmental experts of Pakistan), Hands on Exercises using Remote
Sensing, GIS and Hydrologic Software.
Pollution
Pollution
is a major environmental problem in the most developing as well as developed
countries. Most of these countries such as U.S have been quite successful in
solving these problems by passing out certain environmental laws and producing
alternatives to such sources which cause a lot of pollution such as coal and
oil power stations. There are also laws which make sure that the waste from the
industries is being disposed off correctly and is not in any way harmful to the
environment. However in Pakistan the pollution problems have been rising since
it got its independence. Very few people have concern about the negative
effects of pollution on themselves as well as their environment. Hence this
problem is increasing day by day which may lead in the destruction of our
natural environment as well as our own. In Pakistan there are three major
sources of pollution
Types of Pollution
There are several types of pollution, and while they may come from different
sources and have different consequences, understanding the basics about
pollution can help environmentally conscious individuals minimize their
contribution to these dangers. In total, there are nine recognized sources of
pollution in the modern world. These sources of pollution don't simply have a
negative impact on the natural world, but they can have a measurable effect on
the health of human beings as well.
Different Types of Pollution
Air Pollution
Air pollution is defined as
any contamination of the atmosphere that disturbs the natural composition and
chemistry of the air. This can be in the form of particulate matter such as
dust or excessive gases like carbon dioxide or other vapors that cannot be
effectively removed through natural cycles, such as the
carbon cycle or the nitrogen
cycle.
Air pollution comes from a wide variety of sources. Some of the most
excessive sources include:
- Vehicle or
manufacturing exhaust
- Forest
fires, volcanic eruptions, dry soil erosion, and other natural sources
- Building
construction or demolition
Depending on the concentration of air pollutants, several effects can be
noticed. Smog increases, higher rain acidity, crop depletion from inadequate
oxygen, and higher rates of asthma. Many scientists believe that
global warming
is also related to increased air pollution.
Water Pollution
Water pollution involves any
contaminated water, whether from chemical, particulate, or bacterial matter
that degrades the water's quality and purity. Water pollution can occur in
oceans, rivers, lakes, and underground reservoirs, and as different water
sources flow together the pollution can spread.
Causes of water pollution include:
- Increased
sediment from soil erosion
- Improper
waste disposal and littering
- Leaching
of soil pollution into water supplies
- Organic
material decay in water supplies
The
effects of water pollution
include decreasing the quantity of drinkable water available, lowering water
supplies for crop irrigation, and impacting fish and wildlife populations that
require water of a certain purity for survival.
Soil Pollution
Soil, or land pollution, is contamination of the soil that prevents natural
growth and balance in the land whether it is used for cultivation, habitation,
or a wildlife preserve. Some soil pollution, such as the creation of landfills,
is deliberate, while much more is accidental and can have widespread effects.
Soil pollution sources include:
- Hazardous
waste and sewage spills
- Non-sustainable
farming practices, such as the heavy use of inorganic pesticides
- Strip
mining, deforestation, and other destructive practices
- Household
dumping and littering
Soil contamination can lead to poor growth and reduced crop yields, loss of
wildlife habitat, water and visual pollution, soil erosion, and
desertification.
Noise Pollution
Noise pollution refers to undesirable levels of noises caused by human
activity that disrupt the standard of living in the affected area. Noise
pollution can come from:
- Traffic
- Airports
- Railroads
- Manufacturing
plants
- Construction
or demolition
- Concerts
Some noise pollution may be temporary while other sources are more
permanent. Effects may include hearing loss, wildlife disturbances, and a
general degradation of lifestyle.
Radioactive Pollution
Radioactive pollution is rare but extremely detrimental, and even deadly,
when it occurs. Because of its intensity and the difficulty of reversing
damage, there are strict government regulations to control radioactive
pollution.
Sources of radioactive contamination include:
- Nuclear
power plant accidents or leakage
- Improper
nuclear waste disposal
- Uranium
mining operations
Radiation pollution can cause birth defects, cancer, sterilization, and
other health problems for human and wildlife populations. It can also sterilize
the soil and contribute to water and air pollution.
Thermal Pollution
Thermal pollution is excess heat that creates undesirable effects over long
periods of time. The earth has a natural thermal cycle, but excessive
temperature increases can be considered a rare type of pollution with long term
effects. Many types of thermal pollution are confined to areas near their
source, but multiple sources can have wider impacts over a greater geographic
area.
Thermal pollution may be caused by:
- Power
plants Urban
sprawl
- Air
pollution particulates that trap heat
- Deforestation
- Loss of
temperature moderating water supplies
As temperatures increase, mild climatic changes may be observed, and
wildlife populations may be unable to recover from swift changes.
Light Pollution
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Light pollution is the over illumination of an area that is
considered
obtrusive. Sources include:
- Large
cities
- Billboards
and advertising
- Nighttime
sporting events and other nighttime entertainment
Light pollution makes it impossible to see stars, therefore interfering with
astronomical observation and personal enjoyment. If it is near residential
areas, light pollution can also degrade the quality of life for residents.
Visual Pollution
Visual pollution - eyesores - can be caused by other pollution or just by
undesirable, unattractive views. It may lower the quality of life in certain
areas, or could impact property values and personal enjoyment.
Sources of visual pollution include:
- Power
lines
- Construction
areas
- Billboards
and advertising
- Neglected
areas or objects such as polluted vacant fields or abandoned buildings
While visual pollution has few immediate health or environmental effects,
what's causing the eyesore can have detrimental affects.
Personal Pollution
Personal pollution is the contamination of one's body and lifestyle with
detrimental actions. This may include:
- Excessive
smoking, drinking or drug abuse
- Emotional
or physical abuse
- Poor
living conditions and habits
- Poor personal
attitudes
In some cases, personal pollution may be inflicted by caregivers, while in
other cases it is caused by voluntary actions. Taking positive steps in your
life can help eliminate this and other sources of pollution so you can lead a
more productive, satisfying life.
Fighting Pollution
All types of pollution are interconnected. For example, light pollution
requires energy to be made, which means the electric plant needs to burn more
fossil fuels to supply the electricity. Those fossil fuels contribute to air
pollution, which returns to the earth as acid rain and increases water
pollution. The cycle of pollution can go on indefinitely, but once you
understand the different pollution types, how they are created, and the effects
they can have, you can make personal lifestyle changes to combat poor
conditions for yourself and others around you.
SOLUTIONS
TO THE POLLUTION PROBLEMS
Here are a
few solutions to the pollution problems faced by Pakistan:
Air
Pollution:
Instead of using private cars we must use public transport
more often and walk for short distances.
There should be a greenbelt constructed in big cities such
as Karachi. The trees in the green belt would reduce the amount of fumes in the
air and give out clean oxygen.
We should use unleaded petrol in our vehicles. It is already
available at most petrol stations. Unleaded petrol is more efficient for the
car and is less harmful to the environment.
Most
of the leading car manufacturers should install catalyc converters in their
2.
Water pollution:
a)The factory waste should be first filtered and then
disposed properly into sea or river. If this is not done, then the government
should take legal action against them.
b)Instead of using clean water, we can use the filtered
industrial water for flushing toilets, watering the plants and washing the
cars.
c)The government should ask the local citizens for proper
beach cleaning once in a year. Besides it should also fine those people who
throw their waste into the sea or river.
d)There must be a regular cleaning of all the canals and
channels by the government workers.
e) The government should pass strict environmental laws
concerning oil spill
f)We must all cooperate with one another to save our marine
life as much as possible.
3.Land
Pollution:
a)Instead of throwing all our rubbish
away we can give some of it for recycling such as old newspapers etc. we must
also reuse polythene bags for other purposes such as for carrying things.
b) There must be a landfill area where
all the rubbish can be disposed off. There must also be incinerators where the
remaining garbage can be burned.
c)The government should place garbage
cans and bins in many places so that people can throw their rubbish there.
d)We can play a part by throwing
plastic wrappers and other kinds of waste into the garbage cans and not on the
roads.
e) We can also help by keeping our
environment around us clean as well as educating others to do so.
f) All the shop keepers must use paper
bags instead of polythene ones. These are more environments friendly and can be recycled.
·
Water Pollution
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