Pressing problem: Water scarcity wreaks havoc on forests, says DFO

MULTAN/BAHAWALPUR:

Paucity of water is adversely affecting forests in the Multan Range, DFO LiaquatGulzar said on Wednesday.

Gulzar said the Irrigation Department had to provide water for 180 days annually but the supply of water had declined to 100 days. He said the paucity of water had particularly hit sheesham trees badly as the die-back disease had attacked the trees and stunted their growth. Gulzar said the Pirowal Jungle was one of the worst-affected forests in the region.

The DFO said adequate supply of water could prevent losses to the tune of millions of rupees. He said the Forest Department had been informed by Irrigation Department that it had been grappling with an acute water crisis and could not accommodate its needs.

The DFO said the Forest Department had planted 32,000 trees across Multan and Shujabad. He also revealed that a special committee had been constituted to commence a campaign against the timber mafia.

Bahawalpur District Canal

Bahawalpur Irrigation Circle SE Masood Chughtai said on Wednesday that citizens ought to play their role to eradicate water pollution.

He made the remarks while speaking to Cholistan Development Council Executive Director Farooq Khan at his office. Khan said the Irrigation Department had a pivotal role to play with regard to protecting the Bahawalpur District Canal from getting polluted.

He said the Bahawalpur Waste Management Company should collect garbage accumulating along the canal. Khan said the Bahawalpur TMA should strive to revamp the sewage system. Khan said it was also imperative to initiate a public awareness campaign in the pertinent areas.

He said the Cholistan Development Council would effectively discharge its duties in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2016.