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  • Jan 13th, 2016
  • Comments Off on Need for suitable recharge mechanism stressed
The deteriorating groundwater quality is not only damaging the agricultural productivity but also posing health hazards to people, said Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan Vice Chancellor of University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Talking to Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) Managing Director Zahid Aziz at his chamber, said that heavy ground water was being pumped out due to increasing trend of tube wells that is the area of concern.

He said that only in the province, 1.2 million tube wells are operating that is aggravating the issue. He stressed upon the need to sensitize the public about the rational usage of the water. He also recommended to include the topic relating to water use in school textbooks as part of curriculum that have become need of the hour. He said, "We are pumping out the water but we don't have suitable recharge mechanism. It is worsening the issue of water quality and decreasing the groundwater level". He added rapid growth in population, unplanned urbanisation and unsustainable water consumption practices had placed immense stress on water resources.

He said that in Australia, rain water harvesting model is adopted that may be replicated in Pakistan and called for sensitising the people about the rational usage of water. Zahid Aziz said that all-out efforts were being made to address the issue in the city. He said that the arsenic level in the groundwater must not be more than 10 micro grams per litre but in Lahore and other places it has touched to 50 micro grams per litre. He was of the view that decreasing level and quality of the ground water will pose the threat of the food insecurity. He said, in order to ensure the potable drinking water to the people, they had started sale of cane water at the nominal prices for the welfare of the society.

They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding of lying the main WASA line at the premises of the UAF situated on Jail Road. Registrar Muhammad Hussain, Treasurer Umer Saeed Qadri and other notables also attended the meeting. It was decided at the meeting that UAF and WASA will collaborate in water's analysis, recycling and recharge in order to face up to challenges of water quality and scarcity that have engulfed the country.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2016


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