Contents
1.1 Importance of water
1.2 Water Pollution
1.2.1 Facts about water pollution and water shortage
1.3 Water pollution in Tharparkar district (Sindh)
1.3.1 Introduction to Tharparkar area
1.3.2 History of projects financed by the Government
1.3.3 Diseases caused by water pollution in Tharparkar
1.3.4 Different studies to eliminate water problems
1.4 Precautions for the eradication of the water problem
Introduction
1.1 Importance of water:
Water is very important for all the human beings, and plants etc.even in the early age’s people made their houses near water resources. With the passage of time water become scarce. Large amount of water availability increase the personal satisfaction and is a wellspring of and the condition for, a financial improvement . Better water circulation permits evading the nearness of dormant water or wastewater, where creepy crawlies conveying the previously identified are available. Better water dispersion can likewise bring no requirement for ladies or youngsters for conveying water. This permits all the more extra time to commit to better exercises, as childcare, creature rising or vegetable planting. In creating nations groups that need to set up and run an enhanced water supply change extraordinarily. It is critical not to disregard the diverse nature and history of little groups. There is no standard arrangement, however extraordinary answers for various groups. Arranging and settling on choices on the advantages and disadvantages, the ramifications of every alternative and picking the best choice considering the sort of group is urgent for the achievement of the venture.
1.2 Water Pollution:
“Water pollution is the presence of harmful materials along with biological agents which are of large amount as compared to the normal concentration present in groundwater which cause damage for the human health and environment.’’
1.2.1 Facts about water pollution and water shortage:
Worldwide, an estimated 768 million people remain without access to an improved source of water – although by some estimates, the number of people whose right to water is not stated could be as high as 3.5 billion – and 2.5 billion remain without access to improved sanitation. More than 1.3 billion people still lack access to electricity, and roughly 2.6 billion use solid fuels (mainly biomass) for cooking. The same people is evidenced by a close association between respiratory diseases caused by indoor air pollution, and diarrhoea and related waterborne diseases caused by a lack of safe drinking water and sanitation (UN, 2017).
Social, financial and ecological variables are implanted being developed as the three interlinking mainstays of manageable human advancement. They likewise, to a huge degree, decide populace wellbeing and the dissemination of wellbeing. Wellbeing Inequities are avoidable, crooked orderly contrasts in wellbeing between gatherings with various levels of social favourable position and hindrance (UNDP, 2017).
The common people access to pure clean water and better sanitation systems along with meeting the demands of the people all these factors played important role in the sustainability of Asian countries. Public and private sector both are involved and responsible for managing the water and its related issues and they can work together to make forward some constructive work in this prospective. (UN, 2017)
There are major uncertainties about the amount of water required to meet demand for food, energy and other human uses, and to sustain ecosystems. These uncertainties are compounded by the impact of climate change on available water resources. Greater recognition is needed of the fact that water is not solely a local, national or regional issue that can be governed at any of those levels alone. On the contrary, global interdependencies are woven through water, and decisions relating to water use on a local, national, river basin or regional level often cannot be isolated from global drivers, trends and uncertainties (WWDR, 2017).
1.3 Water pollution in Tharparkar district (Sindh):
1.3.1 Introduction to Tharparkar area:
Ranked by the World Food Programme as the most food insecure of Pakistan’s 120 districts, and by UNDP as having the third lowest level of human development of all districts. However, the geo-physical foundation of Tharparkar features various ecological zones, Tharparkar is spread over 22,000 square kilometres with a population of about 1.5 million residing in 2,300 villages and urban settlements. Divided into six talukas Mithi, Islamkot, Chachro, Dihlye, Diplo and Nagarparkar. The region distinguishes by its low and erratic rainfall, high atmospheric aridity, abundant sunshine and heat. Strong dust-raising winds and sparse vegetation cover. High sand dunes and sandy plains cover 70% of its surface, and very often dissimilar to other set-ups. There are some special characteristics of the zones present in ecologically and these are explained in history in detail.Human behaviour also effect the eco-system and phenomena’s occurred in nature also effects our ecosystem we can easily understand that how the Tharparkar area is classified on the basis of its folk history.in this area the water, along with rainfall and vegetation are present in patches and large variation of vegetation and temperature is also present in this area. To generalize crudely, they have denoted such as Kha`ur, Kantho, Parker, Samroti, Vango, Vat, Muhrano and Dhat. Kha`ur is north to Chachro approaching Kheensar, Gaddro and the area adjacent to them. Water aquifers are present at 1200 feet depth and salt dunes are present there which minimize the flow of water and limited its passage towards the plains so as a result the methods used naturally for collecting water are limited and not applicable like in Traies or Tobha`s and smaller dia wells (varies) to tap seepage water. As a result less amount of greenery is present there and sand dunes are visible. Kantho ranging from Hirar union council in south of Chachro to Pillo, Tigusar Chotal and Mamchero union councils in north of Nagarparkar taluka. There is good rainfall, vegetation with seasons and less deep aquifers are present there at about 150-300 feet. Drinkable water is present there in the form of layers over contaminated fluoride water. Diameter of the wells ranges from 3-4 feet in this area and Parkar is different from Thar because of the presence of plains with rocks in them.Channels are present there with accumulate the seep through rain water and also aquifers are recharged from flows in stream.Dug wells are also present which are filled through the streams and can helped to give water to gardens for vegetation and also for drinking.As the Evaporation is high in this area as compared to rainfall so there are less chances of the storage of rain water. Many dug wells are present within perched aquifers present there ranges in dia upto 4 ft.
Tarais and Tabhas present in the channels at less depth is helpful for providing the drinking water as the surface water is very less in the area. Vat is a short belt extending from southern parts of Diplo and Mithi to the marsh of Kutch. At less depths the interconnectivity is very good so it provides the natural way to accumulate water for fulfilling the drinking needs on the depth of 20 -50 ft.as the water is recycled at lower depths caused the salt content to reduced and therefore makes water drinkable.A small zone named as Samroti has very good quality of soil and have wells extending from south- west of Mithi taluka to northern Diplo, approaching to Vango the fodder is also present here and so the cattle industry is flourishing there.
1.3.2 History of projects financed by the Government:
To have clean water is a basic right every human deserves but most off the parts of Sindh don’t have that. Despite the tall claims, Sindh government has failed to provide potable water to citizens. The provincial government used 29 billion rupees on water supply drainage schemes during the past five years. Sadly, 582 water supply and sanitation schemes out of 1337 are on-functional. Sindh government allotted 11.76 billion for development schemes of water supply and sanitation in the year 2017-18 but development work only appears on papers.
Recently, an inquiry commission appointed by the Supreme Court established that the issue of poor quality of drinking water in Sindh should be remedied but the provincial government has failed to act in this regard. The commission’s report says that 78.1pc of all water samples tested were found unsafe for human consumption and the condition of water filtration plants has not improved.
1.3.3 Diseases caused by water pollution in Tharparkar:
People are infected by water-borne diseases such as HBV or HCV, HAV and HEV. Infants are suffering more than adults because their immune system is weak. Therefore, diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid fever and other diseases are common in infants due to polluted water. Infants die due to the water pollution and malnutrition in Thar and other parts of the province.
Thar is the most affected part of Sindh where many children have lost their lives due to the unhygienic food and water. Engro Company is working in Thar to extract coal and it has dug many wells. Salty and polluted water of these wells is thrown out, which increases the menace of water pollution in Thar. People’s health is at high risk. But the matter of fact is that poor people have no choice except to drink polluted water.
Polluted water directly affects kidneys and liver, causing fatalities. Which leads to death of infants in Thar. Those suffering from malnutrition and waterborne diseases, are the poor and vulnerable communities who have no choice but to drink polluted water. Without access to adequate nutrition, their health further deteriorates.In Thar Desert the most amount of fluoride is present there and there is very less amount of clean water present there so, most of the people used unhygienic fluoride concentrated water. This water cause tooth diseases and also bones related issues along with thyroid and kidney issues.
1.3.4 Different studies to eliminate water problems:
Poor people are effected mostly by the water related issues because clean water is not available for them and the collection of water has been done by women so they are also unable to get education because of lack of time.In Thar area the crops are like millet, bajra and other like them which can bear the dry weather but in extreme dry conditions they also collapse and other fruits are also scarce there in the area.
The access of fluoride cannot be reversed but it can be managed by keep its intake in the permissible limit as its high content not only effects the dental and body health but also makes the person socially crippled.
A joint study in 2010 by DUHS, the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and a local Organization Association for Water, Applied Education & Renewable Energy found over 80 percent of groundwater in the district unfit for human consumption Tharparkar District. It receives an average annual rainfall of only 100-300mm, hence the dependence on underground water. Underground Water Quality of Thar: A Detailed Analysis 2003-08, found more than 50 percent of the population using water with total dissolved solvents of over 5,000 mg per litre (mg/l). In one village in Naroowari, that figure rose to 20,000 mg/l, well over the World Health Organization (WHO) maximum limit of 1,500 mg/l. One major hazard is presence of fluoride (found up to 32 mg/l) in underground water of Tharparkar district.
1.4 Precautions for eradication of the water problem:
For identification of water reserves variety of methods are present including open wells, rain hand pumps, tube wells and water reservoirs. The most often method is to dug a well in the area for the purpose of irrigation and drinking and they are installed in aquifers which are filled with rainfall in monsoon time. Government installed tube wells, and big River osmosis plant been installed have not proved to be entirely successful. Most such projects are not practical due to economic, technical and other reasons. Tharparkar requirements to be measured as a combined of assorted natural zones.
Installation of defluoridation /fluoride ion removal and the aquifer refilling through artificial ways are also checked and give importance.
Community should participate in the projects so that they can be handled with care. All the schemes/water interventions need to be design in a way that it can be affordable and accessible to community in terms of cost, maintenance, operation and social acceptance. Diversified projects may serve the purpose, rather than relying on one water resource. Private sector may be encouraged to support public departments in planning, designing and execution of water interventions. Installation small river Osmosis plants, solar water pumps & windmills for dragging underground water as per community need.