National Water Policy 2018 lauded : Sindh govt urged to establish think tank to resolve issues

HYDERABAD: Water right activists have lauded the newly-announced National Water Policy 2018 and asked the Sindh government to establish a high-level think tank to support government in protecting interests of water stakeholders on long-term basis.

During a dialogue titled “Review of National Water Policy 2018 - consensus and concerns”, organised by the civil society organisations on Saturday, speakers said that after 20 years the federal government has recognised some of the very critical concerns of Sindh, including implementation of 1991 accord in letter and spirit, review of environmental flows downstream Kotri, and assessment and regulations of ground water.

The speakers appreciated the spirit of federal and provincial governments to develop a consensus for policy through the highest democratic forum of the Council of Common Interest.

Abrar Kazi, an author of book on Kalabagh Dam, said: "Since Pakistan is a glacier-melt dependant country and water flows are available only for three months, there is a serious need to review overall water governance paradigm with special focus on conservation of water through small interventions at local level with emphasis on crop pattern change, bio-saline agriculture and water use, re-use practices.

There is no need to speak about new dams. Despite all weaknesses, he said, this policy has given opportunity to Sindh to capitalise its water share.

Zulfiqar Halepoto, a researcher on trans-boundary water issues in South Asia explained the objective of dialogue and appreciated the policy and said that trans-boundary issues were supposed to be dealt with either foreign office or security agencies, but for the first time water issues with India and Afghanistan are recognised as an agenda of federal and the provincial governments, respectively.

Now the civilian government will have a say to negotiate all its trans-boundary concerns and conflicts with neighbouring states, especially India and Afghanistan, he said.

Water sector improvement project representative, Umer Karim briefed the house through a detailed presentation and explained how water-related institutions have developed a professional portfolio, which supported the Sindh chief minister to successfully lobbying for the new water policy.

Dr Ismail Kumbhar from Sindh Agriculture University of Tandojam, said that since the policies' fundamental focus is food security and sustainable agriculture, unfortunately both the basic commitments of SDGs are not properly addressed in the document.

There are several water data gaps in the draft policy, which should have been incorporated, he said, adding that rural water requirements are missing.

Keeping in view new policy targets, universities should be given the task to conduct research on all the 29 priority areas of the draft policy, he suggested. Environmentalist Nasir Ali Panhwar said that a number of concerns of lower riparian have been included in the water policy.

However, rural water supply and sanitation has not been adequately covered.

Water allocation for sea intrusion must be allocated, he said, adding that Sindh should devise its own water policy, while taking guidelines from the national water policy.

Sindh Abadgar Board Representative Syed Nadeem Shah said that the document misses substantiated data on water flows, ground water extraction and water consumption of municipal, agriculture and industrial usage, but overall government has done a tremendous job.

Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) representative Nazeer Essani said that with the personal interest and efforts of the Sindh chief minister and irrigation secretary, the federal government has accommodated Sindh’s concerns in the final document such as implementation of water accord, water security of Riverine area and delta.

He; however, expressed concern over low representation of Sindh and other provinces in the National Water Council.

Prof Mushtaque Mirani emphasised the need to involve farmers, water-related experts, academia and other stakeholders to maximise the legitimacy of democratic decisions and to have more ownership of masses.