Water Crisis in Pakistan CSS 2024 ESSAY Important TOPIC

 

Water crisis in Pakistan

Outline

         I.            Introduction  

       II.            Water sources

A.Water reservoirs /capacities

·         Three basic reservoirs namely Mangla, Tarbela dams and Chashma barrage reservoirs

·         Small reservoirs warsak, baran dam ,khanpur,rawal,simly,Hamal lake, Mancher lake Kimjhar lake etc.

1.       Tarbela Dam Reservoir

·         world’s largest earth and rock filled dam

·         Built on river Indus in 1976 with a gross capacity of 11.62maf

2.       Mangla dam reservoirs

·         Second major storage of Pakistan

·         It was built in 1967 on river Jhelum with a gross capacity of 5.882.

3.       Chashma barrage reservoirs

·         Built in 1972 with a gross storage of o.870maf

B.Rivers

C.Lakes and streams

D.Underground water

    III.            Major uses of water

A.      Irrigation

B.      Power generation

C.      Drinking

D.      Industry

 

    IV.            Causes of present alarming crisis

a.       Water supplies are vulnerable and suffer from extensive losses.

b.       Limited storage capacity

c.       Trans boundary disputes intensifying river supply vulnerability.

d.       Out -dated distribution system and inequitable distribution of water

e.       Groundwater resources depleting rapidly due to over pumping.

f.        Extremely low water tariffs are distorting incentives for water conservation.

g.       Low recovery and underfunded water infrastructure contributing to high water losses.

h.       Gaps in governance leading to inefficient management.

i.         Climate change a major emerging challenge for water sustainability.

j.         Poor water management

k.       Poor handling of industrial wastewater

l.         Climate change

m.     Change in food consumption pattern and lack of proper water storage facilities.

n.       Wastage of drinking water in nonproductive means

o.       Corruption in water sector

p.       Mismanagement in irrigation sector

q.       Hydrological warfare-water terrorism by India

1)      Manipulation of treaty terms

2)      Construction of kishanganga dam

3)      Construction of other dams on western rivers

4)      Worrying level of deforestation

 

      V.            Far- reaching reparations

A.      Effects on agriculture in general and on economy in particular

B.      Implications resulting from india’s terrorism. 

1. Risk of breaching IWT

 2. Possibility to divert water

 3. Internal and external political and armed conflicts

 4. Negatively impacting agriculture and damaging social life

 5. Loss of water annually

  6.  Effecting economic growth

  

 C.Threats to federation

d.Effects on health sector

E.Floods and droughts

F.Impending war with india

G.Energy shortage /crisis

 

VI.Recommendations

A.building dams and reservoirs

1)      Water development

2)      Kalabagh dam

3)      Thal reservoir

4)      Raised mangla dam

5)      Mirani dam

6)      Gomalzam dam

B.The National water strategy

C.Nieed of robust diplomacy at regional and international level

D.Introducing proper water usage fee.

E.Need for more forests

F.seeking assistance from international aid agencies.

G.lining of canals and the optimal use of water for agriculture

H.Adopting more crop per drop technologies for agriculture.

I.Building national consensus on water sustainability via constitutional amendment

     

VII.Conclusion