By: Asem Mustafa Awan
Water represents life and the world is faced with a dilemma as the clean water sources are getting dried and glaciers are melting. The world leaders are joining hands and heads together to address the issue of global warming.
Prime Minister Imran Khan not long ago in his address on World Environment Day highlighted the issue of climatic change.
Pakistan not long ago was one of the worst affected countries owing to deforestation and unplanned urban development and the redressal to this problem was only tree plantation campaigns which were carried out all over the country and more is planned to change the landscape for the future generation.
This global scenario is getting catered at all levels from farmers to big corporations. The local issue particularly at the national front is the division of water for the crops which is hotly debated and contested at the provincial levels.
All provinces are at loggerheads and they are fighting with the center besides fighting among themselves for the water which is at its lowest levels in the national reservoirs.
The numbers simply don’t add up. The water distribution between provinces has been an issue which to date stands unresolved. The progress and prosperity that is linked with new reservoirs catering to national needs have been contested by small group of people who put their personal needs over national needs and are holding the entire country hostage.
The governments both present and the past in their quest for initiating and extending the life line of the country remained unsuccessful as the consensus couldn’t be achieved on the water distribution. As the water sources are drying and the need is increasing so is the rage among officials who are paid from the nation’s pocket to unite but on the officials act on the contrary.
This rift in the provinces is created by design and it is being fuelled deliberately to pander the feeling of the masses besides generating animosity nationwide.
The people who are adding fuel to the fire are all the rich landlords and elites who have thousands of acres at their disposal. The poor farmer sadly add his land to their ever growing acres and afterward dies is misery as there is no relief for him.
The land reforms which were done in India and Bangladesh made the nations and the government in one stroke made laws and ensured everyone is held accountable providing relief and subsidies at the same time.
Pakistan unfortunately with monstrous land lords made their way to the parliament as legislators and made sure that no law should be made which threatens their interests.
Everyday ‘land of the pure’ has incidents reported in the media which gives out gruesome details of water wars resulting in death to many.
The lifeline is now taking lives and this is likely to continue as the situation instead of getting resolved is taking twists which is raising alarms.
It is a harrowing fact the usage of water is but 20 per cent and remaining 80 per cent is washed away in the ocean.
The writer is special correspondent at the ‘The Dayspring’