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What is the solution to the water crisis in Pakistan?
The very survival of Pakistan’s economy, as well as inter-provincial harmony, depends on finding the solution to the problem of water shortage. Perpetual silting of water reservoirs, lakes, canals, rivers and waterways is one of the major reasons of shrinking water storage capacity. The increase in demand due to population growth, and infrequent rainfall, is aggravating the situation day by day.
The problem has now reached a critical decision-making stage. There are two obvious solutions to the problem:
1. Make new water reservoirs to make up for the depleting capacity of old reservoirs, as well as to cater for increase in demand.
2. Maintain the storage capacity of old reservoirs. Make new reservoirs only to meet the requirement of additional demand.
The first option of making new water reservoirs is expensive, and it has a long lead-time and is not keeping pace with the growing demand. In this scenario, maintenance and enhancement of the existing water storage capacity becomes paramount.
Generally, there is a lot of reluctance and opposition to the concept of desilting of water reservoirs. The common reasons cited are:
— Desilting is expensive;
— Disposal of dredged material poses a problem;
— The past feasibility reports by foreign consultants had not recommended desilting.
Each of these arguments is discussed threadbare below.
Desilting is expensive: The claim that desilting is more expensive than making new reservoirs is absolutely untrue.
This can be easily judged by a real-life example of the small Simly Dam which was completed in 1971. The original capacity of Simly reservoir at 2295 MSL datum was 28,750 acre-feet and at proposed 2317 MSL datum was 38,727 acre-feet. The average silting rate of the reservoir was evaluated as 259.44 acre-feet per year between 1983 and 1999. The total silt accumulation till Feb 1999 was about 4151 acre-feet, as evaluated by chief resident engineer, Simly Dam Project, Wapda. Based on the average rate, the estimate of total silting to date is about 4670 acre-feet.
If desilted, Simly Dam water reservoir can be restored to its original capacity at a cost of only Rs200 million in 3 to 6 months. This would increase the present reservoir capacity equivalent to nearly a month’s water supply to Rawalpindi/Islamabad.
A new small dam (as proposed at Chiniot, at the confluence of Soan River, Khad Nullah sand Matajundi Nullah) would cost around Rs40 billion and take at least three to five years to construct.
Disposal of dredged material: The river silt is rich in minerals and is an excellent topsoil material for agriculture. The dredged material can be disposed in one of many ways:
— Use it as topsoil to promote forestry on barren land. In case of Simly dam disposal of dredged material, six hectares of barren land can be covered with one-meter thick layer of topsoil. Forests or vegetable/fruit farms can be grown on such soil.
— Allow farmers to take it free, using their own transportation (a survey suggests that many would be willing to do so).
— Sell the material as fertilizer to recover part of the dredging cost.
No past recommendations: Feasibility studies are valid for a certain time period and under specific conditions. The technological improvements and the criticality of the problem has now changed the scenario and rendered old feasibilities invalid. Foreign companies would still not find it feasible because it becomes too expensive when assessed on western standards of cost estimates. A western mind-set cannot visualize the benefits and costs that local knowledge can accrue. There is sufficient local expertise and technology available within the country to accomplish the restoration of water reservoirs.
CONCLUSION
The problem of water shortage needs to be tackled on urgent basis. The mindset of concerned decision- makers and organizations needs to adapt to the unfolding reality. They can no more avoid a bold decision by hiding behind invalid feasibility studies or unsubstantiated arguments.
The local expertise is available and must be made use of, instead on relying on foreign consultants. A small dam’s storage capacity must be restored as a first step. The aim of making new dams must not be to replace the existing ones, but to meet the additional demand.
A public awareness drive must be launched to convince masses that it is far more beneficial for all if we can store more water when it is available than to squabble for it in time of need.
The author is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, UK, and a chartered hydrographer working for a Dutch multinational company in Pakistan
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