ISLAMABAD: Floods, normally taken as a natural calamity of great magnitude, have taken on the status of an annual event that occurs in our country without fail. Thus, neither the state nor the media seems very interested in talking about the subject. But reality does not change by avoiding talking about such a crucial matter. Every year brings an increase in the number of dislocated people that are left at the mercy of fate and are forced to lead lives of absolute deprivation. Yet, the state keeps on exhibiting its notorious detachment from their plight.
Nations across the world, acknowledging the importance of conserving water, have been building dams and reservoirs, using modern technology to ensure water security and to curtail the threat of floods. The US has built around 100,000 dams, while China has built 75,000 dams. India, Pakistan’s immediate neighbour, has built around 4,000 dams with 64 projects in the pipeline, many of which were built solely for flood prevention and the rest for irrigation purposes.
Despite being aware of the fact that Pakistan, being the lower riparian is at a disadvantage and that heavy monsoon showers every summer bring an unlimited supply of fresh waters that instead of being conserved, are wasted after causing destruction to the catchment regions. Only 18 dams and 23 barrages have been built so far for the purpose of generating electricity and irrigating agricultural land. This is a slow response, considering the regular destruction wreaked by floods.
Millions of cusecs of fresh water that should have been conserved, keeping in mind the emergency situation of water and India’s aggressive designs, are wasted every year. By building more dams and reservoirs, we can stop the recurrence of floods and be able to save enough water to be used in the next 10 years and more. The government needs to take immediate action in this regard before it is too late.
Lubna Umar
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2012.
