Thousands of tube wells out of order in Sindh

The traditional lethargic attitude of authorities in Sindh, particularly bureaucracy, more than 2,085 tube wells out of a total 5,662 installed ones have gone out of order and are not doing what they are supposed to do: to irrigate the agricultural lands. Interestingly, Sindh authorities, after failing to run these costly tube wells smoothly on electricity, are now trying to do something new with these tube wells, to run them on solar energy, that would of course cost millions of rupees more to the provincial exchequer, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Overall some 5,662 tube wells with varying design discharge, ranging from 1.0 cusec to 5.0 cusecs, were installed to control water table. These tube wells are saline as well as fresh water ones, according to official documents made available exclusively with the Pakistan Today.
All these tube wells were operated on electricity. But according to the information available with this paper, some 2,085 tube wells are not functioning at present because of different reasons i.e., vandalizing of electric components, theft of electric transmission lines and bore failure. These tube wells are needed badly by the local farmers to irrigate their agricultural land, and to control water logging and salinity problem from their respective areas.
The President of Pakistan in various discussions has desired to convert of these tube wells on solar power to combat the present energy crises. Looking to the public demand and prevailing energy crisis in the country, the government seems highly inclined to change its energy profile to include renewable energy resources that are widely used all over the world.
Our country can take advantage of solar energy so abundantly available here. At first stage, some 250 tube wells located in the jurisdiction of Development Region have been proposed for rehabilitation and conversion to solar energy instead of electricity operated.
The solar tube wells will be most economical, require less maintenance, will provide uninterrupted operation and will save electricity that could then be utilized for other purposes.
The PC-I of the scheme costing Rs 1873.383 million was discussed at the technical committee meeting held on 3 December, 2011, in P&D Department wherein following decisions were taken:-
(i) The administrative department would initiate a summary for approval of CM Sindh, with scheme’s cost being above Rs 200.00 million prior to PDWP consideration.
(ii) (ii) The scheme was cleared for PDWP subject to cost rationalization and modification of the scheme in light of the discussion held during the meeting. Funding of scheme would be either from federal government or from Out-Side Water Budget as Non-ADP. In the light of decision of technical committee, Chief Minister Sindh was requested to allow processing and execution of the scheme with funding from outside the budget.
Furthermore, the sources said it was apprised that there were 2,398 tube wells in the limits of Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) with varying design discharge ranging from 1.0 cusec to 5.0 cusecs for controlling water table. All these tube wells are operated on electricity.
The energy is the lifeline of every developed and developing society and it constitutes one of the most important components of development. It plays a vital role in the economic development. Growing energy insecurity combined with constantly rising cost of electricity is a threat to the progress of a society. Like other developing countries, Pakistan is facing an acute energy shortage which is badly affecting its socioeconomic and industrial development.
These tube wells will serve multiple purposes. They will provide assured supply of drained water for Thar coal power generation units. They will also lower the water table along the surrounding areas.