Balochistan environment: If no small dams constructed, Balochistan will run out of water soon

Climate change is making the precarious situation worse by altering the water and weather patterns around the globe, causing droughts and water shortages in some parts of the world but floods in the others.

Balochistan is no exception as it is probably the most vulnerable to water stress situation and climate change but is less equipped to deal with their negative consequences. Luckily, it received snowfall, particularly in North of Balochistan and immediate South of the province this winter —never seen in almost a decade.

But Balochistan is now experiencing erratic and sparser rainfall and snowing generally. Many places in the province used to receive snowfall, the frequency and intensity of which has reduced over the years, in some places, quite dramatically. This is having grave impacts on the quality and quantity of water resources in the province.

Many fear if the current patterns were to continue, the situation is expected to get worse. By 2025, two-thirds of Balochistan's population may not have access to water. Already the environmental and climatic changes have affected the province badly over the decades:

1. The Karez system—an indigenous method of irrigation in which groundwater is tapped using tunnels and underground water channels—has almost vanished barring few places.

2. Over drilling of underground water tables for illegal tube-wells is another threat to depleting water reservoirs: according to the Water Management Authority (WASA), there are now more than 5,000 illegal tube-wells in Quetta and its surrounding areas. A reliable source in Wasa warned that a few years from now, Quetta will be completely dry.

3. Climate change is interlinked and it is also related to the deforestation. Preserving climate patterns are not possible without addressing deforestation issue so is wildlife. Balochistan’s historic Ziarat’s juniper forests if preserved can help dent in warming.

4. Global warming crisis is acute in Balochistan. The temperature of its different cities shows surprise increase particularly its capital City Quetta which was once famous for being the coolest city in the country and is now witnessing high temperatures in summer and winter has also shortened. Additionally, in various parts of Balochistan, the growers are increasingly experiencing change in crops as unlike the past some crops are being cultivated in areas which were never suitable for them.

How water stressed situations are directly related to national security can be gauged by a report by the US National Intelligence Council (NIC) which was commissioned in 2012. It says: water scarcity is becoming a national security threat and a leverage to achieve terrorist objectives. The report warned that “over the next 10 years, freshwater availability worldwide would not be able to keep up with demand, hindering food production, economic growth and security. The council predicted that water will increasingly be used as leverage between nations and even as a “weapon to further terrorist objectives.” NIC also warned that countries in the Middle East and South Asia, including Pakistan, will experience extremely high water stress by 2035, “increasing economic, social and political tensions.”

The art of water management, conservation, and efficient use is called water stewardship. Water stewardship by the successive governments should be a top priority in a province like Balochistan, where the lethargic successive governments did not pay much attention to rectify the deteriorating situation.

However, the current Chief Minister Jam Kamal who often exhibits greater environmental awareness and commitment through social media is aware of his obligations. “Balochistan is already facing serious environmental issues, particularly water scarcity and drought, thus we need to come up with concrete measures, besides creating awareness about the impact of climate change,” said the Chief Minister a year ago in November 2018, while chairing the first meeting of the Balo­chistan Environmental Protection Council (BEPC).

Under his leadership, the provincial government took a lead in forming the BECP, following reports of the last conference of International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC). Its main objective was to study and come up with result-oriented recommendations over climate change and environmental degradation.

After the report of the IPCC, it was also decided to change the name of the Balochistan Environment Department to the Climate Change and Environment Department. Balochistan was the first province to take initiatives following the last IPCC report. But the government is facing a huge challenge as well. What so far has been done by the Jam Kamal-led government is not near adequate enough effort.

The best option remains water reservoirs and water delayed dams. So far modest efforts have been made by successive governments. Barring few, no major feasibility study has been conducted to spread the network of water delayed dams and funds allocated.

The latest example is Siri Toi Dam which has been well conceived as feasibility study conducted a while ago. The cost has been estimated at almost five billion rupees. But lack of political will and bureaucratic red- tape are the main hurdles to implementing this project.

Small dams to conserve water flowing after rainfall is one of the cheapest solutions for lifting underground water table and combating droughts.

Like Siri Toi Dam, let the provincial government work with the federal government for at least 50 small dams in the next three years. It will be the best legacy of Chief Minister Jam Kamal and Prime Minister Imran Khan for water-stressed Balochistan.

(The writer is a geopolitical analyst, a politician from Balochistan, and ex-adviser to the Balochistan government on media and strategic communication. He remained associated with BBC World Service. He is also Chairman of Centre for Geo-Politics & Balochistan)