Floods, normally taken as a natural calamity of great magnitude, have taken the status of an annual occurring. Thus, neither the state nor the media seems very interested in talking about the subject. But reality does not change by avoiding such a crucial matter. This time round it’s only the armed forces that are involved in disaster management and relief operations. Medical camps are being installed and food items are being provided to the affectees, but more needs to be done. Every year brings an increase in the number of dislocated people that are left at the merciless hands of fate to lead a life of absolute deprivation. Yet the state keeps on exhibiting its famous detachment from this significant issue.
It has been observed that nations across the world, acknowledging the importance of conserving water as a precious resource, have been building dams and reservoirs using technology and modern gadgetry to bring about water security and to curtail the emanating threats of floods. The US has built around 100,000 dams to successfully manage its water while China alone has reduced the water threat by building 75,000 dams. India, Pakistan’s immediate neighbor holds a strong position in dams as it has built around 4000 dams with 64 projects in the pipeline, many of which were built solely for flood prevention and the rest for irrigation purposes.
Despite being aware of the fact that Pakistan being the lower riparian is at a disadvantage and that heavy monsoon showers every year in the summer bring an unlimited supply of fresh waters that instead of being conserved is wasted after causing destruction to the catchment regions, only 18 dams and 23 barrages have been built so far for the purpose of generating electricity and irrigating agricultural land. This seems to be a rather slow response considering the destruction created by floods that is a regular feature in Pakistan.
Millions of cusecs of fresh, drinkable water that should have been conserved, keeping in mind the emergency situation of water in the country coupled with India’s aggressive designs, is wasted every year. By building more dams and reservoirs we can stop the recurrence, diminish the extent of the devastation caused by floods and be able to save enough water to be used in the next ten years or more.
The once abundant crop production and water supplies in Pakistan is suffering and dwindling due to extreme environmental changes as protracted spell of droughts are followed by heavy and massive flooding. This change in the environmental condition calls for immediate action by the government before it’s too late.
LUBNA UMAR
Islamabad