WATER AND ENERGY CRISIS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Humans have always fought for control over water in the past and its eventual scarcity in future is likely to start major conflicts and wars among nations. Availability of water is rapidly reducing with time. Neighboring countries like USA and Mexico demonstrated during the 1960‘s that mutual sharing of water can bring revolution in irrigated agriculture and boost their economies if sanity and perseverance prevails in the leaderships, but this did not happen in case of Pakistan and India. Pakistan in 1947 inherited with its creation major trans-boundary water issues which resulted in signing of Indus Water Treaty of 1960. An era of studies and construction of new waterways started with it and Pakistan was somehow successful in catering for its water needs at that time but with the rise in population and delay in construction of new water reservoirs after Mangla and Tarbela, a major water crisis coupled with energy is in the genesis. Hydropower is integrated with the water sector projects. Most of the large dams serve the multiple proposes of water storage as well as power generation. The planning and ranking of projects should therefore address both needs of the country. Report on land and water development in the Indus plain by white house, department of interior, USA (1964) Dr. Roger Revelle says, ―We are convinced that within a generation West Pakistan‘s agriculture can undergo a revolution of the kind already occurring in Japan, the United States, and other advanced countries. A rate of increase can be established and maintained which will far outrun the growth of population and will so improve the economic condition‖. The potential can only be utilized to its maximum through an integrated approach towards water resources development. Pakistan should build at least one reservoir for storage of about 6 MAF every decade in the foreseeable future which will also enhance the agriculture yields in Pakistan which are quite lower than those achieved by some other countries. Present crop water requirements especially for wheat, sugarcane and rice are inappropriate. The potential can only be utilized to its maximum through an integrated approach towards water resources development. Pakistan should build at least one reservoir for storage of about 6 MAF every decade in the foreseeable future. The priority should be given to the construction of Diamer-Basha and Munda dams as well as Dasu hydropower project and make targeted efforts to build consensus on Kalabagh dam. Planning should start to build carry over reservoirs. Water conservation measures need to be adopted through the use of high efficiency irrigation systems. Using improved agricultural practices increase the rate of agricultural produce which should outrun the growth of population. Country-wide studies to define the specific crop water requirements of lands in various districts in the country should be carried out. Judicious use of groundwater should be ensured by urgently adopting strict regulation measures. Water conservation measures need to be adopted through the use of high efficiency irrigation systems. Using improved agricultural practices increase the rate of agricultural produce which should outrun the growth of population. Country-wide studies to define the specific crop water requirements of lands in various districts in the country should be carried out. Judicious use of groundwater should be ensured by urgently adopting strict regulation measures. Numerous reports on planning and development of water as well as energy resources are available which are never consulted at the time of planning. Now its time to act and practical approach should be adopted to curtail our water as well as energy situation prevalent in our country.