Water scarcity in Thar

Imran Ali Brohi
Water shortage is a daunting challenge for the people of Tharparker. It is the largest desert in Pakistan with l.6 million population. It is located in the South-east. Water paucity is a looming and long-standing issue to be resolved. It is heart-wrenching to say that more than 70 percent of Tharparkar’s population has no access to potable water to drink. In fact, sometimes people drink rainwater that is stored over time which becomes toxic. Moreover, researchers predict that the lack of clean and safe drinking water is the leading reason for disease and health problems in Thar at large. Consequently, it results in claiming no fewer than 400 children each year by malnutrition and disease. The situation in Thar is a stark reminder to those who are silent and let things get worse even more. Since times, the water crisis is a major problem in this area. People living in Thar have to travel 4 to 5 kilometers to fetch pots of water(50 to 60) liters. Thari people are deprived of their basics necessity. It is said that water is an essential element for livings to survive. It is heart-saddening to say that Both people and animals drink water from the same pond. Summer aggravates the situation further by rising temperatures creating a scarcity of water. In summer, an average man drinks 3 to 4 liters per day but people of Thar hardly get some sips of water in times worse situations. Their survival hinges on rain but it seldom rains there. It is a matter of feeling sorry that our politicians are ignoring millions of lives today due to their political goals and political vendetta. Our media is replete with the news of politics and not broadcasting the crisis the people of Thar even the people of Pakistan are facing due to scarcity of water. One recent example of the Sindh government’s proposed USD 33 million projects in 2015, under which 750 reserves osmosis(RO) water purification plants were to be installed in Tharparkar. But years later, hardly 400 RO plants exist and at least 70% are dysfunctional. Therefore, Government should make long-term and as well as short-term plans for curtailing the water crisis by introducing dams and reservoirs. Most of the dams that are under construction should be completed as soon as possible.