ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: Member National Assembly standing committee on environment Marvi Memon has called for implementation of sustainable water policies to end severe water scarcity in Balochistan.

Proposing a set of policy recommendations to the federal as well as the provincial governments, she said there was a need to implement and enforce integrated water resource management policy already approved by the Balochistan government. She called for reducing dependence on groundwater as surface water resources were 12 times more than groundwater in the province.

She was of the view that rainwater harvesting technologies should be implemented on a war footing.

Ms Memon said Balochistan's share of Indus water needed to be fully utilised for which infrastructure facilities should be further developed along with drainage facilities in irrigated areas to control water logging and salinity.

She said agriculture extension services should be more proactive in spreading awareness on crop water requirements and on appropriate cropping patterns suited to local environment.

Pointing out that drinking water was a major concern in Balochistan's coastal belt, she said it must be addressed through construction of small dams and desalination plants. The fishing sector needs to be developed by supporting fishing communities through upgrading their skills and management capacity. Recycling of grey water after due treatment should be promoted for agricultural purposes.

She said currently the water requirements for sustaining ecosystems were not being adequately addressed in government projects. It is essential that these requirements and those of the lower riparian water users should be addressed appropriately.

She lauded the policies of the previous PML government and former President Musharraf's contribution to the development of water resources in Balochistan including construction of Mirani dam, Kacchi canal, watercourse improvement, Quetta greater water supply and environmental improvement project, etc.

She said water resource use practices, whether domestic or agriculture, were poor, resulting in water losses which Balochistan cannot afford due to existing scarcity of water. Awareness raising campaigns are urgently required.

Groundwater is being overexploited beyond its development potential. Artificial recharge technologies and water management measures should be encouraged to rejuvenate depleting aquifers. A model which is functioning at Balozai district under IUCN supervision should be replicated elsewhere in Balochistan. She said due to climate change impact, water scarcity will increase with more droughts and flashfloods. Therefore, proper planning for such eventualities is required.

She said Balochistan's economy cannot afford continued subsidy on energy bills for agriculture tubewells. Small farmers should be the only beneficiaries of tubewell subsidy. The Rs8 billion being spent on subsidy should be diverted to irrigation technology. Promotion of sustainable and equitable use of fresh water in Balochistan through high efficiency irrigation systems in agriculture is urgently required, she added.