ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: Integrated water resource management is imperative for sustainable economic development of any country.

This was stated by Dr Hans Friederich, an official of the IUCN Asia Regional Office, Bangkok, while speaking at a seminar ‘Water, Nature and Development- A Global Perspective’ on Monday. The seminar was organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

Mr Friederich said water issue was becoming more and more related to poverty eradication. However, he cautioned that water management should not entail negative implications for other sectors. It (the management) should be feasible and cost effective, he added.

He said nature and ecosystem should not be spoiled in the process of managing water. “Poor people depend upon health ecosystem,” he added.

The IUCN official pointed out that water issue could drag countries into mutual conflicts as it was now assuming greater importance in international politics.

Speaking in the context of Asia, he stressed the need for inter-regional collaboration as many rivers in this continent ‘cross borders’. He was not appreciative of the Karez irrigation system and mushroom growth of tubewells for pumping out water in Balochistan.

“This has dropped the water level in the area very drastically,” he said.

During a question-answer session, Dr Friederich spoke on the recycling of water. Though he agreed with the idea, but held that South East Asian countries did not need recycled water, saying, “they are blessed with enough water”.

When asked whether large dams or small ones should be preferred, he said both had their advantages and disadvantages. But, he told the audience that bigger development had bigger negative effects on the environment. Large development takes more time and more resources, he added.

When asked whether he favours provision of water through pipelines to areas like drought-hit Balochistan, Dr Friederich said: “Yes China is supplying water to its capital through long stretched pipelines so it could also be done here.”

However, he quickened to add that it would then create water shortage in the area from where water was being supplied.