National Water
Policy
The Council of
Common Interests (CCI) has finally unanimously approved the National Water
Policy (NWP) on April 24, 2018 that had been hanging fire for a decade over the
reservations of the provinces. The CCI directed WAPDA and the Punjab and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces to work out their respective net hydel profit
arrears according to the A G N Kazi formula. This too had been a long standing
bone of contention. According to KP Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak, his
province stands to receive an additional Rs 60-70 billion on this account as a
result. The CCI also approved the National Water Charter, which was signed by
all four CMs. The first ever NWP envisages selection of water reservoirs with consensus
in line with the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord after thorough examination of
their impact on sea intrusion, environmental protection and provincial water
rights to secure surplus water. The NWP’s initial target is to increase the
storage capacity from the existing 14 mega acre feet (MAF) by immediately
starting the 6.4 MAF Diamer-Bhasha Dam, which was cleared by the CCI in 2009
but has run into obstacles such as financing and the reluctance of donors given
that it lies in disputed territory (China too is believed to have reservations
as regards this project for this reason). The meeting was told that water
scarcity is looming and population growth and increasing demand dictate
enhancing storage capacity. Under the NWP, the provinces will develop their own
master plans within the national framework for sustainable development and
management of water resources. While water resources are a national
responsibility, irrigation, agriculture, water supply, the environment and other
water-related sub-sectors remain provincial subjects. The NWP will be
implemented through a National Water Council (NWC), headed by the prime
minister and comprising the federal ministers for water resources, finance,
power, planning and development and reforms and all the provincial CMs. A
steering committee of the NWC headed by the federal minister for water
resources will monitor implantation of the NWP with representatives of the
federal and provincial governments and concerned departments. The NWP
recognizes the need to provide at least 10 percent of the Public Sector
Development Programme (PSDP) to the water sector, gradually increasing this to
20 percent by 2030. The provinces too will be called upon to increase their
spending as the total allocation of Rs 145 billion, seven percent of the
combined federal and provincial development budgets for 2017-18, has proved
inadequate. Water losses of 46 MAF are to be cut by 33 percent by 2030 through
canal and watercourse lining, which should also have a salutary effect on the
loss of arable land to waterlogging and salinity. Water usage efficiency will
be improved by 30 percent by 2030 through the incremental introduction of drip and
sprinkler irrigation and other similar technologies. A more realistic water
pricing mechanism and data collection and monitoring form part of the ambitious
package. Since food, water and energy security are inextricably linked, the
federal government is expected to play a leading role in ensuring the
efficient, sustainable utilisation of ground water, its industrial uses and
waste water management, with the cooperation of the provinces.
About the
adoption of the NWP, suffice it to say, better late than never. Pakistan lies
in a region widely predicted to suffer the effects of climate change,
particularly water scarcity. It goes without saying that the issue has two main
facets: storage of whatever water is or could be available, and its most
efficient utilisation. Since storages have become a politicised matter,
especially the Kalabagh Dam, we have to tread carefully. India continues to
flout the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty in building projects on the
western rivers whose waters are supposed to flow without impediment into
Pakistan. Internally, past disputes between the upper riparian Punjab and Sindh
in particular, but also the other two provinces, has left a residue of mistrust
and suspicion. Storages like Kalabagh Dam can in this obtaining climate perhaps
only be built if guarantees are available to the lower riparians that no new
canals will sprout from the Dam, thereby ensuring Sindh and Balochistan’s due share
of the waters of the Indus, while KP would need to be satisfied through
guarantees of prompt and just rehabilitation of displaced people and compensation
for agricultural losses due to the water table rising. While the NWP has put in
place an organisational structure, it is the trust factor that will ultimately
determine the country’s ability to proceed. Financing difficulties
notwithstanding, it is encouraging that allocations are being envisaged for the
Diamer-Bhasha Dam in the upcoming PSDP. The canal and watercourse lining
proposal can incrementally save water equivalent to the envisaged storages,
prevent waterlogging and salinity, and arguably is affordable. The Indus Delta
must not be deprived most of the year of water south of Kotri as is being done
since the 1991 Accord. Minimum perennial flows keep the sea at bay, protect agriculture
in the Delta and surrounding areas, and preserve the rich flora and fauna that
Nature has blessed us with.
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