Call to build reservoirs to fight water shortage

FAISALABAD: The diminishing water resources and heavy melting of glaciers amid climate changes are posing a serious threat to food and water security in the country.

It was disclosed during a seminar organised on water resources by the Water Management Resource Centre and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, at Old Senate Hall here on Friday. Chairing the session, UAF Vice-Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar said that the country had been placed in red zone in term of per capita water availability. He said that it was need of the hour to establish water reservoirs on war-footing to fight the emerging challenges. At the time of inception of the county, per capita water availability was 5,000 cubic meter that had declined now to less than 900 cubic meter, he added.

He was of the view that heavy groundwater pumping, deteriorating water quality and water scarcity were emerging threat to agriculture sector for which we had to take concrete measures. WMRC, UAF, Director Dr Rai Niaz said that excessive extraction of water by pumps was deteriorating the groundwater quality.