Amir Khan

As many as 3,846 small-scale rainwater harvesting schemes aimed at promoting appropriate technologies for water storage have been completed so far across Pakistan. According to information available with WealthPK, out of the total 3,846 schemes, the highest number of 3,606 schemes have been completed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, followed by 180 in Punjab and 60 in Sindh provinces. As many as 3,980 schemes were planned for Punjab, of which 180 have been completed, while work on 320 schemes is under progress. Another 3,480 schemes are at approval stages.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 12,790 schemes are proposed, out of which 3,606 have already been completed and 42 are under progress. In Sindh, out of 108 schemes, 60 have already been completed, while work on 23 is going on. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) authorities have submitted 600 such schemes to the federal government for approval. Due to the emerging water crisis, the government is also promoting appropriate technologies for rainwater harvesting in rural and urban areas which is one of the important objectives of the National Water Policy (NWP).

Consistent with the NWP, the concept of rainwater harvesting is being used in the country for water conservation for crops and livestock as well as groundwater recharge. Countrywide data regarding progress on implementation of various rainwater harvesting RWH projects in Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICT) showed that 69 check dams and ponds have been completed. Currently, 39 such schemes are in progress in ICT, while 57 more have been planned for the capital till 2024.

In Sindh, through the federal government funding, around 28 small storage and mini dams have been completed, while seven mini dams  were under construction. Similarly, the Sindh provincial government under its Annual Development Plan (ADP) built 36 small storage and delay action dams, retention weirs and impervious sub-surface outflow (ISSO) barriers, while work is in progress on 12 ongoing mini dam projects.

In Balochistan, Abato and Sanza dams in Chaman area have been built for water storage, while work on Diasara dam is in process. In district Killa Abdullah of Balochistan, 65 out of 200 ongoing dams have been completed, while work is in progress on the remaining sites. In district Killa Saifullah, work on 71 dams, 200 small check dams for ground water recharge in Quetta and 100 delay action dams in tehsil Dobandi, Gulistan, Killa Abdullah and Chaman has been completed.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 13 small dams have been completed so far, while other 14 are under various stages of execution. In AJK, construction of 600 water tanks and harvesting structures for storage of 4.5 million gallons of water is in progress, while feasibility study for the Bhimber dam project has been completed. Moreover, feasibility study of 34 mini dams to store 14,200 acres feet water has also been completed.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk