Resurrecting the Ravi

Published January 13, 2018

THE Asian Development Bank has pledged technical assistance for developing a plan to clean the Ravi river in response to a call by the Punjab government. A report in this paper which confirms the ADB’s approval recalls that some 50m people live in this river basin in Pakistan, including 24m urban dwellers in Punjab’s major cities of Lahore and Faisalabad. The cleaning up of the Ravi was in focus while the river was shrivelling up because India had the rights to its water under the Indus Waters Treaty. The ADB notes that the basin is heavily polluted; it is suffering on account of discharges from uncontrolled industrial as well as agricultural growth. How the ADB help is going to manifest itself in practical terms is not yet clear. The news about the offer of assistance is a bit surprising though, as the Ravi had been slipping from memory.

The earlier debate generated when the river was turning into a sewage nullah had seen government after government, right through the 1990s and later, come up with plans to rescue it from its rotten condition. Indeed, some of the most flowery schemes involved beautifying the old riverbed. These turned out to be more sloganeering than anything substantial. Then, slowly, the flood of ideas subsided. Neither officialdom nor the general public showed any interest. It was as if all those plans of resurrecting the dead river were unable to get any outside backing — which was considered vital as the government did not have the means to salvage the Ravi on its own. In fact, there were periods of total silence on the issue as urban development projects were initiated with zeal. Even the laments about the great stream which once saw many a king flow out of the picture were no longer heard. The ADB’s promise of help could revive hope and renew interest, leading to new ideas on what can be done. The river may still have a lot to offer, if anyone cares to look deep enough.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2018

Opinion

Beefing up security

Beefing up security

The issue lies not in the sincerity and dedication of Pakistan’s law enforcement but in their capacity and access to effective surveillance equipment.

Editorial

Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...
Ultimate price
Updated 02 Nov, 2024

Ultimate price

To dismantle culture of impunity for crimes against journalists, state must ensure that perpetrators do not go unpunished.
Mastung bombing
02 Nov, 2024

Mastung bombing

INSTABILITY continues to haunt Balochistan, as Friday morning’s bombing in Mastung has shown. At least nine...
Plane speak
02 Nov, 2024

Plane speak

DESPITE all its efforts to facilitate PIA’s privatisation, it seems the government only ended up being taken for a...