World Water Day: ‘Scarcity is imminent if conservation delayed’

Photo exhibition, awareness walk held on The Mall.

LAHORE:

“Our country is faced with imminent water scarcity. Unless we learn to use water in an efficient manner, our future generations will be bereft of this precious resource,” Irrigation Minister Yawar Zaman said on Sunday.

He was talking to Sindh Tass Water Council chairman Muhammad Salman Khan and senior engineers at his office. The minister said March 22, World Water Day, was observed to remind the nation of a great blessing that needed to be conserved.

Zaman said the Punjab Irrigation Department tried to promote efficient use of water in the province. “We try to ensure that the farming community gets its due share without facing any trouble and at the same try to conserve as much water as we can,” the minister said.   He said Pakistan was the “proud custodian” of the largest contiguous irrigation infrastructure. The Irrigation Department had undertaken several development schemes for the repair and maintenance of the canal network.

The minister hailed the role of farmers as pivotal to the irrigation sector. He said the department had undergone structural changes and was taking an institutional approach to ensure the best facilities possible to them.

“We have made sure that farmers, especially tail-end farmers, are included in every decision making body to bring about irrigation reform…this strategy has particularly been very successful,” he said.

The minister said that the Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority  had done a remarkable job in serving the farmers.

He urged media to come forward and raise awareness about how people could ensure efficient use of water in their daily lives. “Our nation must reiterate its commitment towards efficient use of water…it is the best gift we could give to our future generations.”

He said the vision and policies of the Irrigation Department had helped farmers in several ways. “The reforms we introduced are helping farmers increase agricultural productivity,” he said.

Exhibition to raise awareness

Alkhidmat Foundation organised a photo exhibition at Alhamra Art Gallery and an awareness walk themed Safe Water, Safe Life on Sunday.

The idea was to raise awareness and understanding around the issue. Pakistan Red Crescent Society chairman Dr Saeed Elahi inaugurated the exhibition.

The photographs showcased in the exhibition were themed around the subject of water conservation and dangers of drinking contaminated water. Students and members of the Alkhidmat Foundation later walked from the Alhamra Art Gallery to the Punjab Assembly.  Participants held up placards carrying inspirational quotes and educational messages. Waqas said almost 6.3 million people in the country did not have access to safe drinking water. Diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, thyroid gland disorders, jaundice were common in Pakistan due to lack of awareness on the need to drink safe water. He said according to recent statistics, 250,000 children under the age of five years died in Pakistan each year from lack of access to drinking water.  According to the World Health Organisation, diseases caused from consuming contaminated water cost Pakistan almost Rs.1.3 billion.

He said the Alkhidmat Foundation was providing drinking water to 957,000 people daily through 28 large water filtration plants, 672 smaller water filtration plants, 1,141 water-wells, 2766 hand-pumps, 33 sub-pumps, and 23 water-supply schemes. He said 4,832 water-projects were being planned.

“Access to safe drinking water is a basic right,” he said. Several NGOs were working with the government to ensure that this right extended to as many people as possible. Syed Rashid Dawood said Safe Water, Safe Life was a message which invited people to understand the nature of the issue. “We need to conserve water. We need to do our best to make sure that our precious resources are not contaminated with industrial waste.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2015.