Govt should take note of water scarcity

Islamabad

Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders (ICST) on Tuesday said government should take note of water scarcity and take steps to ensure water security.

Looming drought should be noticed to save country from water insecurity which is to take toll on masses, agriculture and industry, said Patron Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders Shahid Rasheed Butt.

He said that water resources are rapidly plummeting decreasing per capita water availability has by 80 per cent since 1951 while no mega water storage project has been constructed after the completion of the Tarbela Dam, he added.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said that climate change has disturbed pattern of rainfall in the country while overdependence on groundwater has reduced its level to alarming limits which must be noticed.

He said that existing dams have limited capacity to store water which has resulted in lack of cheap electricity, limited protection from floods and inadequate water for masses, agriculture and industry and situation is getting serious by the passage of time.

Whole country is increasingly coming under extreme water strain but the situation in Balochistan is much more critical where groundwater shortage has reached catastrophic proportions.

Some reports blame excessive groundwater utilisation by mining industry while federal and provincial government continue to blame each other for the situation without realising the gravity of the situation, he said.