By: Muhammad Zafarullah
Water depletion from the pond of katas Raj temple which is a sacred site of Hindus, and ultimately, a Suo Moto notice taken by then Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan brought the nation ’s attention first time on the this neglected and poorly managed natural source of groundwater. It was the first time when the general public widely came to know that unsustainable use of groundwater could have wider negative implications on society.
To make people educate about the wise use of natural resources and especially groundwater, our women and youth can play a role of change agents. Similarly, the inclusion of this segment by the policymakers and government can make a huge positive difference.
Dealing with our natural resources, we as a nation, collectively, are irresponsible and selfish users. From deforestation to water crises, we are responsible for all these natural disasters, and root cause lies in the notion, collectively believed and shared by most of the Pakistanis that collective resources are free and unlimited, and it is there right to exploit as much as they can without any impunity. Currently, our industries are also not far behind from our people in polluting our resources. Timber mafia is cruelly cutting the trees and industries are discharging hazardous waste material without any treatment into the environment . We have played havoc with our forests, lakes, water resources with our recklessness and mismanagement. However, on the part of the duty side, people do not believe that it is their duty to safeguard these collective natural assets.
On the part of the government, we are not seeing any active participation to change the notion that natural resources are not for unlimited exploitation or to make aware people about their wise use. Environment agencies, now under provincial government and regulated by EPA(environment protection agencies), are not playing their part.
Pakistan is heavily dependent, with its growing population, on the extraction of groundwater for irrigation, commercial use and for drinking purposes. About 50 percent of its irrigation needs are met with it which accounts for 9 percent of global groundwater extraction. Similarly, contamination of groundwater by industrial waste is compounding the problem.
Consequently, these factors are taking a toll on the unaware masses, women and young people, more than half of the population, and they are the ones who would be most affected by it in the future. Decreasing groundwater level is increasing the cost of pumping and mixing of hazardous waste is rendering soil infertile which will have negative economic implications for them in the future. This account requires an active role by them and their perspective should be added into the policies that are meant for groundwater management. An active role by this segment can change the situation in a better and sustainable way.
Young people and women are the ones whose active role could be used to improve the level and safety of groundwater as this issue could only be solved through sensitization of masses. It is becoming a problem due to water using habits because, in Pakistan, people consider it a naturally replaceable source and without any consequence. However, its unwise use comes with a heavy price. Unwise use includes plantation of intensive water consuming crops like rice and sugarcane which require huge quantity of water. Similarly, groundwater’s industrial use, without paying a single penny, reinforces the notion that it is an unlimited resource. Pakistan needs to end this unfair industrial practice.
As young people and women constitute more than half of the population, behavioral change in their water consumption habits could bring marvelous changes. With improved literacy rate and increased use of mobiles among the youngsters, it has now become easy to influence this wider segment of society. They can be used to disseminate information in their families and illiterate people who do not know the importance of sustainable use of water.
Additionally, they can provide data through the use of technology. Data gathering will be helpful to policy makers to formulate policies and informed decision making. Level of groundwater in different areas could be gauged through this data.
To bring their input in the policy-making through consultative dialogues and giving them a seat on the discussion table is a better way to give them a sense of ownership. The sense of ownership will encourage and motivate them to fiercely protect this precious resource.
Similarly, research studies show that projects which were participative and included youth and women were successful because they make a major part of the total population. Their sensitization and inclusion mean that most of the population has been influenced. They bring their own perspective in policy-making and vibrant energy that could be utilized in a beneficial way.
On the other hand, neglecting this major chunk of population means that we have left our more of the half population uneducated about the importance of groundwater, and it will render our efforts ineffective to safeguard our groundwater.
To make young people and women’s participation effective, there needs a political will and we should facilitate them and they should make the part our solution strategy.
Unsustainable use of water which compromises future needs of our youth needs their active participation and a realization by the government and organizations which are working on this subject that youth and women are important stakeholders who should not be neglected while making policies. Their input should be included in the policies and implementation phase as well.
Writer is young activist, an associate fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society and social entrepreneur.