Balochistan’s government has declared a state of ‘water emergency’ in Quetta. This announcement should not surprise anyone keeping an eye on recent developments in the province. Many parts of the capital have been without water for months. Households have to rely on costly private tankers, which are known to exploit the water scarcity situation. This Eid, for instance, tanker companies were reportedly charging up to Rs5,000 for a single tank of water. Unfortunately, with drought-like conditions, rising temperatures and power shortages, residents have little option but to pay up. A few kilometres away from the city, Hanna Lake — its turquoise waters once hydrating the cantonment area and preventing the flow of rain and floodwater from the mountains to the city — is now a dry stretch of land. Trees that lined the valley are barren. In other regions, almond trees had to be cut down due to the amount of water they required.

How did we get here? The crisis can be attributed to natural factors (cyclical droughts), but also manmade conditions: poor water management, deforestation and population growth. Groundwater, the main water source for domestic and agricultural use, is said to be depleting at 0.884 metres annually. And despite a ban on the unauthorised installation of tube wells, their rampant (and illegal) use continues. Environmentalists warn that if concrete steps are not taken, Quetta will witness large parts of its population displaced in the near future. Climate-based migration has already been identified in GB and Sindh. The previous government proposed a Rs40bn project for allocating water from the Pat Feeder canal, but nothing came of it. Given that people cast their votes on the promise of water (‘paani do, vote lo’), the new government must work closely with Wasa and the Public Health and Engineering Department to come up with a water management plan and ensure its implementation.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2018