Water wastage causing food insecurity—grounds for terrorism

Lack of water and its criminal wastage due to no dams and no Water Management for the past 46 years has resulted in food insecurity, crippling load shedding, devastating floods and joblessness. Pakistan is wasting about 40 to 50 maf of water resources due to poor governance and inert attitude as no dam is built after 1974 when Tarbela was completed 37 years ago. Add another 10 years for the completion of Basha. This means no dam for almost half a century. Moreover, the Canal Irrigation System is 150 years old. It is highly wasteful as it wastes about 50 per cent water that enters the system. The Canal Irrigation System has become obsolete, as it is incompatible to meet crop water requirements as and when required in proper dozes to meet the crop consumptive use of water.

Food insecurity, and lack of water for Water Management, resulted in terrorism, violence, social unrest, lawlessness, and political instability. Corruption adds fuel to the fire. At the same time, hydropower is not generated for the past 37 years.

Negligence of dams construction  for 37 years after Tarbela has resulted in devastating floods of 2010 where one-fifth of Pakistan‘s highly developed areas was destroyed besides causing unending crippling load shedding and water shortage that in turn resulted in food insecurity. This shows complete governance failure after 1974. The failure to solve these water and hydropower issues, are the grounds for developing bloody revolution that may destroy the peace in the region and the economy. Lawlessness in several parts of the country has already taken place. Like in Karachi, Swat, South Waziristan, Parachinar, and in other FATA and PATA areas.

Over and above, the Supreme Courts decisions have been made controversial, and not implemented. This means no respect for the Supreme Court and for the law of the land. Moreover, seeking justice in this country is very costly, and is not affordable. This creates law and order problem that leads to crimes. The governance failure, in the near future may lead to bloody revolution. There are no jobs, no price control, no justice, no merits, but daring corruption that is protected in the guise of politics. These are signs of utter governance failure.

All these evils erupted as the country’s natural resources of land, water and hydropower for irrigated agriculture to produce food and jobs are ignored due to inert attitude. Most of the population are hungry. Hunger exists everywhere. Therefore, people try to sell their dear children and commit suicide. Certainly, nothing is being done at the present times to address the food security, and power shortage for lack interest in Water development.

 Over and above, flood phobia severely prevails. Floods may hit again as Pakistan has only 2.8 per cent forest area. Therefore, Pakistan is the target of climate change for not creating greenery by irrigated agriculture and not raising artificial forests. The rural population and the refuges are cutting young trees for the use of fuel, as there is no gas for the purpose. The timber mafia is cutting jungles that is criminal. Nothing has been done or proposed to mitigate climate change and safety measures against its fury.

Pakistan is actually facing governance crisis rather than food crisis, as we have enough water, and fertile lands if timely and properly developed.

Constitutional provision to remove food insecurity and provide jobs

Article 38 (a) (b) (c) and (d) provides that the State shall secure well-being of the people, provide facilities for work, provide adequate livelihood, provide the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, housing, education and medical relief. This Article of the Constitution is glaringly violated by the Government for the past about 40 years. As a result, a dozen of water and power issues are created. Pakistan has suffered hundreds of billions dollar losses due to unending crippling load shedding, flood devastation, water shortage creating food insecurity and war on terrorism.             

I recommend to build the unique and multipurpose dam at Katzarah on the Indus, a dam on Punjkora River at Guroh Dop, and a raised Fateh barrage at the end of the Indus River valley besides carrying out Integrated Comprehensive Water Manage to solve water and power issues and to secure food production and provide jobs.