DO WE NEED MORE DAMS?

                                                                            

                                                        UMM E RUQQIA

UMM E RUQQIA

The current floods in Pakistan have triggered a new discussion about whether Pakistan needs to build more water reservoirs. If the country had spent more on building dams, would it be possible to avoid this devastation due to floods? Over a thousand people have lost their lives, and thousands have been injured due to floods. More than 33 million people have been impacted directly or indirectly, most of whom are from the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. Agriculturists estimate that Pakistan has regressed by 50 years as a result of the current crop damage.

One of the main reasons for these devastating floods is the lack of water storage capacity. Rivers overflowing from their banks cause flash floods and glacial lake bursts. Unprecedented heat waves of April and May resulted in heavy rainfalls and left one-third of the country under water. To meet the rising demand for water and energy, it is crucial to create new hydropower and water management projects.

The country's per capita water availability has also declined due to its rapid population growth, whereas the reservoirs' ability to store water is declining owing to sedimentation. Only 30% of Pakistan's annual rainfall can be stored, and due to inadequate storage facilities and silt buildup in the country's water reservoirs, approximately 70% of that water is lost. This water, if stored, can be utilised in so many progressive ways.

According to the World Bank, Pakistan’s severe floods were caused due to the monsoon rains and glacial melt at hill torrents. In comparison to its 5% contribution to GDP, the agriculture sector consumes nearly 80% of all the water. The absence of water management plans costs the economy $12 billion per annum. Pakistan only has a 30-day water storage capacity, compared to the U.S.'s 900, Egypt's 700, and India's 170. The minimum water storage capacity of any country should be 120 days, and Pakistan is not even close to this criterion.

To start, in order to enhance water management we should consider the Bhasha and Kalabagh dams project. The Bhasha Dam Project on the River Indus is particularly noteworthy from the perspective of building dams because it is the least controversial and most beneficial project. It will increase system power generation while extending the lifespan of the Tarbela Dam by holding silt upstream and will offer 6.5 million acre-feet of storage capacity. The Kalabagh Dam was thought to provide 6 MAF of storage, 3,600 MW of power output, benefits from irrigation, and enhanced flood management. However, inter-provincial conflict rendered the project politically unworkable. 

Water management is severely needed in order to utilise the water which just goes to waste. There are other approaches to productively managing water outside the construction of dams. It is important to start a national integrated water management and conservation program. The initiative should include certain crucial elements, such as a push for watershed management, floodplain management, a strategy for restoring wetlands, and the dissemination of high-efficiency irrigation systems across the country. Upgrading the water distribution system, which includes significant canals, barrages, headworks, groundwater regulation, management, and river navigation development, are additional important aspects.

With the historic ratification of the first national water strategy, which included various strategic initiatives at the federal and provincial levels, the age-old debate over whether to build dams or not has taken a significant turn. The integrated water resources management idea serves as the foundation for the policy. It, therefore, provides something for both sectors, federal as well as provincial. The different pillars of government must put their differences aside, accept responsibility for effectively executing this policy, and pave the path for a better, more sustainable, and water-secure Pakistan.

The current floods were not traditional floods, these were caused by the excessive monsoon rains and glacial melt. We need to make immediate climate change preparations to control similar situations in the future. Water reservoirs or dams should be built as quickly as possible because the glacial melt is not going to stop due to climate change, so we need long-term planning for water management to make that water useful. The irrigation system in Pakistan needs to be improved by the government. It is necessary to modify outdated water-wasting irrigation techniques. The wastewater in urban areas should be managed efficiently. To combat water scarcity and destructive floods, Pakistan needs to update its water policy and implement fresh initiatives for water conservation and glacier melting.