|
|
|
|
ON GOING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
|
Agricultural Water Management
|
|
1. Sustainable Technologies for Efficient Water Management in Irrigated Areas of Southern Indus Plain
|
The project aims to introduce sustainable technologies to judiciously utilize and manage
the water resources in the Southern Indus Plain, through conducting pilot projects and
disseminating research findings to the farmers, at their fields. Study on refinement of
skimming well technology was carried out by installaling skimming wells in the lower
reaches of Lower Indus Basin and data were collected for fresh and saline interface
movement and/or probable intrusion / up coning of underneath saline water layer.
It is suggested that continuous pumping of less than 5 hours will have not any
threatening effect on up conning of under lying saline layer. A survey of private
tubewells in the Districts Hyderabad, Badin, Mirpur Khas and Nawabshah revealed that,
majority of tubewells were operated for 7-12 hours (50-56%) and with excessive discharge
(65-83%). A survey of Indus Delta from Thatta to Keti Bunder was carried out by installing
observation wells and collecting and analyzing water samples, for probable seawater
intrusion in the coastal and agricultural lands. DRC has also conducted research on
the use of saline groundwater after making it marginal by mixing fresh groundwater /
canal water in different ratios, for better crop yield. Different water conservation
technologies / practices i.e. bed and furrow irrigation, zero tillage, laser land leveling,
growing low delta crops and irrigation scheduling are being evaluated at the farmers’ fields,
with their participation. The results of these studies showed better crop yield with maximum
water use efficiency. The research study on evaluation, monitoring, and management of
municipal wastewater, for crop production is in progress.
|
 |
 |
|
Different water management practices are being evaluated in the Southern Indus Plain
|
|
|
2. Improved Water Conservation Practices for NWFP and Northern Areas of Pakistan
|
The research and development activities are being implemented in 5 districts of NWFP
(Mardan, Swat, Buner, Upper and Lower Dir and all districts of Northern Areas, to
identify water and soil management issues/problems, their extent and to develop
water conservation plan in the NWFP and Northern Areas of Pakistan under changing
global environment. Construction of storage reservoirs and improvement of conveyance
channels is demonstrated at 21 sites and high efficiency irrigation systems i.e..
lift and trickle have been installed at 24 sites in NWFP and Northern Areas. A sub
station has been established in Gilgit to control the water resources research
activities being carried under different projects in the Northern Areas.
|
 |
 |
|
Trickle irrigation systems installed at different sites in the NWFP and Northern Areas
|
|
|
|
3. Enhancement and Management of Groundwater Resources in Balochistan
|
The main objectives of the project are to assess the existing status of groundwater
resources and development and implementation of a plan for sustainable management
of groundwater resources through low cost artificial recharge techniques and rainwater
harvesting. The preliminary surveys were conducted to know pre project status of
groundwater resources at the sites selected for artificial groundwater recharge
activities. Construction of leaky and check dams/structures and watershed management
practices are in progress at different sites in Kan Mehtarzai, Feroz Kan and Magat Area.
|
 |
 |
|
Watershed management practices to enhance the groundwater recharge in Boluchistan
|
|
|
4. Result Oriented Short Term Research Studies to Improve Water Resources of
Mountainous Area
|
The main objectives of the project are to undertake various research and development
activities for improvement of water resources of mountainous areas including:
development and propagation of appropriate water harvesting techniques in Swat
Valley; development and testing of methodologies for rejuvenation and monitoring
the behaviour of selected glaciers; development of snowmelt stream flow relationships;
and improvement of channels for efficient conveyance of water in the mountainous areas.
The survey of water and land use practices in the Malik-e-Dam Valley Swat showed that
water table depth is alarmingly increasing, owing to the heavy groundwater mining.
To enhance the potential of depleting glaciers, three glaciers (one in Chillas and
two in Sakardu) have been selected for rejuvenation. These glaciers have been
grafted with the active participation of Agha Khan Rural Support Progranne (AGKRSP)
and local community and monitoring/relevant data collection to record the annual
increase in mass balance etc. are in progress. To study the behaviour of glaciers,
a methodology has been devised with the geo-referencing of the acquired satellite
images, to carry out biannual topographic survey of the selected glaciers.
The baseline survey of (Matalatan Glacier) in Upper Swat is conducted and
data collected to determine retracts, advancement, ablation and accumulation etc.
Similarly snowmelt-stream flow relationship of Swat River has been developed after
collecting and processing 30 years data, to understand the snowmelt regime and
flow forecasting. The improvement in the construction of water channels in
Districts Dir and Buner and installation of high efficiency irrigation systems
in the mountainous areas are also in progress.
|
 |
 |
|
A view of a grafted glacier before (L) and after (R) at a selected site in Northern Areas
|
|
|
5. Participatory National Integrated Water Management Programme
|
The package of technologies has been introduced to judiciously utilize and manage
the water resources of the country through establishment of 11 pilot projects in
irrigated, rainfed, coastal, uplands mountainous, and AJK Areas of the country,
and dissemination of the research results to the farmers. The technologies include:
watercourse improvement; construction of check dams, mini dams and dug wells; high
efficiency irrigation systems i.e. lift, sprinkler and drip; and laser land
lavelling etc.
|
6. Integrated Land and Water Management Studies for Agricultural Development in the
Potohar Region
|
The results of the assessment status of Swan Basin (50%) of Potohar Region showed that
on an average 2.87 MAF of water passes the Basin without being used. Due to increase
in population, the domestic water consumption has increased 120 times and would be
doubled in next 25 years. The water table in the basin has dropped to 3.75 m, with
an average drop of 0.15 m per year during the last 25 years. The 50% domestic water
demand is met from groundwater, 47% from surface storages and 3% from springs etc.
The sediment flow data of three rivers i.e.. Soan, Kanshi and Haro in Soan Basin
shows continuous decrease in out flow, the reasons being the changing rainfall
pattern, urbanisation, increased rainwater harvesting practices and on-going soil
and water management activities etc., however the detailed investigation linking
to sub-basins would further elaborate the reasons. For the demonstration of
efficient land and water management activities, to the farmers of the area,
4 pilot sites (3 acres each) are developed by growing fruits (olive, guava,
apple, almond and citrus) and wheat crop, after installing high efficiency
irrigation systems (trickle, sprinkler) in Rawalpindi, Fateh Jang and Gujar
Khan Districts and relevant agronomic and climatic data is collected on regular
basis.
|
 |
 |
|
Demonstration of efficient land and water management practices at famers’ fields in Potohar Region
|
|
|
7. Mass Awareness for Water Conservation and Development
|
The main objective of this mega project is to launch a comprehensive mass awareness
campaign for sustainable management of water resources in the country in collaboration
with UNDP. The specific objectives include: collection and documentation of existing
knowledge on indigenous and improved technologies for water conservation in
agricultural, industrial and domestic sector; dissemination and promotion of
best practices evaluated through research, for mass awareness at grass root
level, to the real user, in much coherent way, using appropriate dissemination
data and fora. The project activities have been started after the recruitment
of staff. Two farmer days were organized at Field Research Station, Sial Mor
and Regional Office, Bahawalpur.
|
 |
|
A farmer day organized by PCRWR and UNDP under the Mass Awareness Programme
|
|
|
DESERTIFICATION
|
8. Mitigation of Desertification for Poverty Alleviation by Integrated Management of Land and Water Resources in Cholistan (MDPA)
|
This project envisages to undertake research for mitigation of desertification for
poverty alleviation by establishing 20 demonstrative-cum-desertification control
research farms in Cholistan Desert. The micro desertification control farms have
been established at 7 sites in Dingarh, Naraywala, Hyderwali, Malkana, Nidamwla,
Marrot and Toba Mian Allah Yar. At each farm 25 acres of land has been brought
under desertification control activities i.e. wind erosion control through micro
barrier checker boards, plantation of trees (acacia, prosopis, amliceps, parkinsonia,
tamarix, ziziphus and varius shrubs for sand dune stablisation, silvipasture and
grassland development etc. The sprinkler irrigation system is installed at Hyderwali,
and initial results have shown that carrying capacity of grasses can be increased 20
times, by applying small quantity of water. An area of 10 acres has been selected
to establish seed bank of local grasses i.e.. Panicum maxicum and antidotale,
Sporobolus iocladus, Cenchrus ciliaris, Lasrius sindicus and wild millet.
These activities will not only protect desert lands, but will also make them
productive by producing fruits and various crops and would contribute in
meeting future demands for food and fiber.
|
 |
 |
|
Wind erosion control by micro barrier checker boards and range land development with rain gun
|
|
|
9. Rainwater Harvesting and Desertification Control (RHDC), Kharan Chagai Desert Balochistan
|
The project aims to manage and utilise the existing land, water and bio-resources
of Kharan Chagai Desert on productive lines. The water resources remained under
high stress due to prolonged drought for the last seven years throughout
Balochistan but had pronounced effect on the ecology of Kharan Chagai Desert.
The accelerated desertification process can be controlled through rainwater
harvesting and exploitation of available saline and fresh groundwater sources
and utilising these resources for sand dunes stabilization by applying
biotechnologies i.e.. introducing naturally screened xerophytic native and exotic
tree, bushes and grass species of the desert. Establishment of a field research
station on 500 acres of land, is in process. Initially, four water storage ponds
have been excavated in District Noshki. Water shed management activities i.e..
construction/development of check dams, dikes and ditches have also been initiated
in the area.
|
 |
 |
|
The desertification control and rainwater harvesting activities in Kharan Chagai Desert
|
|
|
|
10. Combating Drought and Desertification in the Thar Desert by Management of Water Resources
|
The project is being implemented in Thar and Parkar Araes, Sind. The main
objectives of the project are to assess: the existing status of water resources
(surface and groundwater); water utilization practices; water quality;
agricultural practices; desertification status/management activities;
historical hydrological and climatic data collection; and soci-economoic
conditions. A field research and demonstration centre has been established
at Mithi, by acquiring 200 acres of land. Excavation of rainwater harvesting
ponds, dug wells/tubewells, saline water utilization and desertification control
activities i.e. plantation of trees, bushes, shrubs etc. are initiated in the area,
using collected rain water and available saline water. Four rainwater harvesting
ponds and two dug wells have been excavated in the Desert for drinking and other
purposes.
|
 |
 |
|
The views of a dug well and a rainwater harvesting pond excavated in Mithi, Tharparkar Desert
|
|
|
Water Quality
|
11. Water Quality Monitoring in Rural Areas of Pakistan and Installation of Low Cost Water Conditioning and Filtration Units
|
The main objectives of this project are to evaluate the quality of drinking water
sources in rural areas, covering 24 districts (94 tehsils) in four provinces of
Pakistan, and design and install water conditioning and filtration units in the
problem areas, in collaboration with local governments to ensure safe supply of
drinking water to the rural population. The water quality analysis results of more
than 10,000 samples collected from 48 tehsils have shown that on average 85% samples
are bacteriolgically unsafe. The concentrations of TDS, and turbidity were very
high in majority of the water samples, whereas, in some areas of Punjab and NWFP
, nitrate concentrations were found beyond permissible limits. Eight water
conditioning and filtration plants have been installed in Islamabad, Fateh Jang,
Sialkot, Sekhupura and Bahawalpur.
|
 |
|
Water sample collection for analysis (L) A low cost filtration plant installed in Sahiwal (R)
|
|
|
12. Arsenic Monitoring and Mitigation in Pakistan
|
Results of joint research studies by PCRWR, UNICEF, Local Governments (2004) and National
Water Quality Monitoring Programme (2002-06), revealed the presence of arsenic in the
Southern Punjab and Central Sind. This project was initiated to monitor the presence
of arsenic in all the districts of Punjab and Sind provinces. Sampling and analysis for
arsenic is completed in 31 districts of Sindh and Punjab. In Punjab Province, 38.28%
of samples are found beyond 10 ppb and considered unsafe. In Sindh province, 11.16% of
samples are found beyond 10 ppb and evaluated as unsafe. Training on arsenic analysis,
data recording and operation of arsenic removal technologies is imparted to staff of
Local Govt. Punjab and Sindh and Female Master Trainers of NGOs. PCRWR has developed
and evaluated low cost arsenic filters, the manufacturing on commercial scale is in
progress. These filters will be provided in the problem areas for arsenic mitigation.
|
13. Provision of Safe Drinking Water-Khushal Pakistan Programme
|
|
This mega project was initiated in 2006. The project focuses on six important
activities i.e. establishment of 24 water quality testing laboratories in different
regions of Pakistan, installation of 24 water filtration plants, assessment survey
of water supply schemes, capacity building of water supply agencies, water quality
monitoring and mass awareness. The PCRWR has upgraded already established six water
quality laboratories at Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore Bahawalpur, Tandojam, and Quetta
with the latest equipment. Whereas, 18 laboratories are established at Faisalabad,
Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Multan, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Nawab Shah,
Sukkur, Karachi, Loralai, Ziarat, Dera Ismail Khan, Abbotabad, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit,
Khyber Agency. Assessment survey and water quality monitoring of 3200 schemes is
completed. Under the capacity building programme in water quality monitorig, 15
courses have been conducted for water supply agencies of WASA, Public Health
Engineering Department and Local Governments of Punjab, NWFP, Northern Areas,
FATA and AJ&K, 26 courses will be completed by 2008.
|
|
|
Top
|
|