KARACHI, Dec 29: Experts at a two-day national conference on Water management and conservation in Pakistan: issues and options opposed construction of new dams and canals and proposed that the existing system be improved to ensure prevention of the annual loss of water i.e. about 40 MAF.

The conference, organized by the SZABIST, Action Aid and Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, commenced at a local hotel on Monday.

Dr Jawed R. Leghari, vice president of the SZABIST, briefed the participants about various aspects of water crisis being faced by the country.

The main theme of the day was water management and the system adopted by the irrigation department. Criticizing the system, speakers suggested that instead of building new dams and canals, the government should maintain the existing ones as Indus River did not have enough water for new projects. Referring to the 40 MAF annual loss of water, they said that the irrigation department was responsible for this huge wastage.

The speakers also discussed historical background of intra-province water distribution system, global ‘water mafias’, dams, impact of mega irrigation projects on Indus delta and future of water development.

Former Senator Qazi Abdul Majeed, Vice Chancellor of Isra University Dr Asadullah Qazi, Chairman Technical Committee on Water A. N. G. Abbasi and former federal secretary Manzoor Ahmed Sheikh were among the speakers. — PPI