said Pakistan was not out of water, but we need management to provide the water to the communities in need.
Executive Director RDF Masood Mahesar sharing objectives of the conference said they have studied spate irrigation, covering all the areas, including Jamshoro, Dadu, Thatta, Khairpur, Kambar Shahdadkot and Malir Karachi, which shows that it could be effective for promoting an alternate irrigation system. He said Punjab and KP provincial governments have developed infrastructure about spate, but in Sindh there were only communities working on self help basis.
Barani Abadgar Association General Secretary Raza Muhammad shared the community perspective about managing rain water for a longer period, as they depend on spate irrigation system. He belongs to Manjhand, Jamshoro district where he works on mobilising the community to raise its voice for ensuring investment on developing this neglected system.
Aneela Memon, a PhD from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), talking about the role of women in spate areas in agriculture and livestock rearing, said women have a key role in cropping and livestock rearing. “It is common that women usually spend eight hours for agriculture, three hours on livestock management, only one hour for child care, and the lowest time for their rest," she said.
The conference issued Tandojam declaration at the end, following recommendations about the huge potential of spate flows, which were being wasted and as a result causing scouring, erosion and damage to costly infrastructures, settlements, lands, and other properties. Spate management would improve as sometime natural streams turn disastrous for communities. The development of alternate water resources was key to self-sufficiency in the country, to meet the growing needs of food security, etc. Spate areas in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh were mostly least developed.
The unique nature of the flash floods produced by hill torrents and development of its potential depends upon many factors, including hydrology, catchment area characteristics, terrain and land potential, recharging aquifer prospects, water rights and uses, development potential and indigenous practices.