UN helps fund rainwater harvesting project

MOCC says reducing impact of flooding, drought top priority of govt

ISLAMABAD:

A six million dollar project has been initiated to implement the idea of saving rainwater falling on the roofs of buildings for washing and irrigation use.

The Adaptation Fund project worth $6.094 million (Rs1 billion) will enhance resilience to water scarcity caused by floods and droughts at community, district and city, and national and provincial level in Rawalpindi and Nowshera districts.

The project is being implemented by United Nations-Habitat, Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), National Disaster Management Authority and Pakistan Council for Research on Water Resources, as per a press release issued on Sunday.

The statement noted that the project will install rainwater harvesting units both at household level and public buildings to demonstrate cost-effective solutions towards floods and droughts. Reducing the impact of flooding and droughts is one of the top priorities of the government, it added.

It further mentioned that to scale the project's approach, a national urban strategy will be developed, focusing on climate change impacts, particularly floods and water scarcity (and resulting public health problems), while also employing a spatial planning approach.

In light of the novel coronavirus crisis, the rainwater harvesting units are extremely relevant as these interventions will improve the hygienic conditions of the local communities, the statement noted, adding that the needs of the most vulnerable will be considered at all stages of the process.

UN Acting Resident Coordinator Mio Sato appreciated the efforts of MOCC and UN-Habitat for launching the climate change adaptation project. She further emphasised UN common approach mainstreaming in projects and programming to pave the way for sustainable flood and drought management at all levels and creating a model for climate resilient urban development and management in Pakistan.

MOCC Director-General Irfan Tariq explained that Pakistan is one of the severely impacted countries by climate change although its greenhouse gas emissions are low.

“This project is important and will be instrumental in building climate change-related resilience in Rawalpindi and Nowshera districts,” he added. He reaffirmed the commitment of local authorities to provide support for its successful implementation.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2020.