LAHORE, June 3: The government should try to control desertification by checking large scale cutting of trees and ensuring regular plantation and its protection.

This was stated by Pakistani representative on the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK, Prof Dr C.M.Ashraf, in his keynote address at a World Environment Day meeting held here on Saturday.

Ashraf said research was necessary for controlling desertification. Communities in drylands, according to him, were faced with problems like water supply, sewerage disposal, health, education, roads, inadequate agricultural inputs such as fertiliser, water and seeds, under-exploitation of mineral wealth, food insecurity and poverty. Drylands of the African Continent, he added, were the worst affected by desertification.

Director-General Agriculture (Field), Punjab, Dr Muhammad Rafiqur Rehman said that 75 per cent land in the province was being degraded due to erosion by wind and rain. Steps like plantation and compaction of soil were needed to control erosion of land which resulted in reduction in productivity on account of loss of top soil.

Environment expert Dr Sultan Mahmood said that only 20 per cent urban population had access to tap water but its quality was not regularly tested. He said that 25 per cent population still did not have access to potable water and was forced to drink rain and pond water with animals. —Reporter