Appraisal of water resources urged

Experts hail initiative for accounting framework

LAHORE:

Experts from government departments, policy makers and the academia have hailed water accounting plans for accurate assessment of the resources in Punjab.

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Pakistan organised a consultation workshop for the experts.

Water, Food and Ecosystems Director Dr Mohsin Hafeez said on the occasion, “The government has information of surface water for the Indus basin but groundwater data is unavailable.”

He said the IWMI would develop a water accounting framework at the federal, provincial and Okara district levels. Covariance flux towers will be insralled in Okara, Chakwal, Rahim Yar Khan and Sheikhupura to provide data regarding water and carbon emissions in agriculture.

Punjab Irrigation Department Chief Engineer Habib Ullah Bodlah discussed the preparation of water accounts by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) at the provincial level. According to him, “The provinces prepare water accounts of their canal systems with respect to allocations and deliveries. They are shared with the agriculture department and other stakeholders for comments,’” he highlighted.

He said Programme Monitoring and Implementation Unit (PMIU) of the department was mandated to monitor the allocations and deliveries from the main to tertiary canal level, thus determining unaccounted water from each canal.

A Water Resources Zone (WRZ) has been established at the provincial level, which will be responsible for groundwater monitoring and management, and is preparing a Groundwater Management Information System (GMIS) similar to the Irrigation Management Information System (IMIS) for surface water.

Water Management Training Institute Director Dr Maqsood Ahmad said the On Farm Water Management (OFWM) Programme was providing technical and financial support to the farmers for adoption of new technologies and practices.

Under a new World Bank-funded project, 72 watercourses across Punjab have been selected for water accounting and budgeting.

All the farmers will be provided technical support to prepare complete inventory.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2023.