OUR population has increased at a high rate, but we have not built even a single freshwater reservoir during the last four decades. This situation seems to becoming worse as no significant water reservoir is under construction at present. This dire condition is totally owing to incompetence.

However, the recent campaign has created some awareness among the masses because of the chief justice’s personal efforts. The response to this effort nationwide is impressive.

In Pakistan, the biggest water user is the agriculture sector. About 30 per cent of canal water is lost during its supply to the fields. This can be avoided by lining the canals and water channels. Farm water management measures can also reduce this loss if they are applied properly like land levelling and using sprinkle irrigation system.

Rainwater harvesting is another such technique. Small dams with low cost can be built which do not allow rainwater to turn into floods. Water stored here not only raises ground water table, but can be used for domestic and agricultural purposes.

We are using ground water at very high rate and it is estimated that the ground water level is dropping at one metre per year. This is an alarming situation. Unnecessary pumping of ground water should be avoided.

We should also consider the reuse of waste water like Korea where a huge amount of sewerage water is treated for washing and cooling purposes.

Tariq Mahmood Khan

Faisalabad

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2018