Underground dangers: More tube-wells to further deplete water table
Underground dangers: More tube-wells to further deplete water table
* CDA sets aside Rs 30m for installation of tube-wells* PCRWR, Pak-EPA see tube-wells part of problem, not solution
By Atif Khan
ISLAMABAD: Excessive pumping of groundwater has depleted water table and polluted reservoirs but the Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to install more tube wells in year 2008-09. The CDA has allocated Rs 30 million for installation of more tube wells in this budget but it has granted no funds for construction of any dam or reservoir to meet water demands in the long term.CDA officials told Daily Times that the existing resources of water for urban areas solely relied on rain and groundwater. “Total water supply to the capital is 66.51 million gallon per day (MGD) against the demand of 111.6 MGD,” said an official. Simly Dam on River Soan produces 42 MGD water, Khanpur Dam on River Korang 2.4-9 MGD, Saidpur Dam 0.6 MGD, Noorpur Dam 0.5 MGD, Shah Dhara Dam 1 MGD, while over 250 tube wells produce 7 MGD water.The CDA officials said development of new sectors would increase water needs at the rate of 500 MGD by 2030.They said water table has been dropping at the rate of 1-2 metre per year since 1982. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) experts said that excessive pumping of water through tube wells had resulted in increase of arsenic levels in groundwater, turning it unfit for drinking.Felling of trees in catchments of dams and global climate change were also responsible for water pollution.Pak-EPA to take action: Asif Shuja Khan, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) director-general (DG), confirmed to Daily Times that excessive pumping of water had resulted into dropping of water table and pollution of water reservoirs.He said installation of new tube wells by the CDA would increase dangers to the environment. He said ponds and small water reservoirs should be constructed to meet water needs.He said inflatable plastic ponds were available in the market, which should be used to save time and funds. He said Pak-EPA would soon write to the CDA, stopping it from installing more tube wells.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\05\story_5-7-2008_pg11_1
* CDA sets aside Rs 30m for installation of tube-wells* PCRWR, Pak-EPA see tube-wells part of problem, not solution
By Atif Khan
ISLAMABAD: Excessive pumping of groundwater has depleted water table and polluted reservoirs but the Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to install more tube wells in year 2008-09. The CDA has allocated Rs 30 million for installation of more tube wells in this budget but it has granted no funds for construction of any dam or reservoir to meet water demands in the long term.CDA officials told Daily Times that the existing resources of water for urban areas solely relied on rain and groundwater. “Total water supply to the capital is 66.51 million gallon per day (MGD) against the demand of 111.6 MGD,” said an official. Simly Dam on River Soan produces 42 MGD water, Khanpur Dam on River Korang 2.4-9 MGD, Saidpur Dam 0.6 MGD, Noorpur Dam 0.5 MGD, Shah Dhara Dam 1 MGD, while over 250 tube wells produce 7 MGD water.The CDA officials said development of new sectors would increase water needs at the rate of 500 MGD by 2030.They said water table has been dropping at the rate of 1-2 metre per year since 1982. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) experts said that excessive pumping of water through tube wells had resulted in increase of arsenic levels in groundwater, turning it unfit for drinking.Felling of trees in catchments of dams and global climate change were also responsible for water pollution.Pak-EPA to take action: Asif Shuja Khan, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) director-general (DG), confirmed to Daily Times that excessive pumping of water had resulted into dropping of water table and pollution of water reservoirs.He said installation of new tube wells by the CDA would increase dangers to the environment. He said ponds and small water reservoirs should be constructed to meet water needs.He said inflatable plastic ponds were available in the market, which should be used to save time and funds. He said Pak-EPA would soon write to the CDA, stopping it from installing more tube wells.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\05\story_5-7-2008_pg11_1
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