Report:
Murtaza Zaib Zehri
The life of Dildar Ahmed, a resident of Quetta, has become a bitter example of the effects of climate change. They live on Spiny Road and travel a distance of 5 km daily to get clean drinking water.
The problem of acute water shortage in Balochistan is increasing day by day. Decreasing rainfall, declining groundwater levels and increasing population have made water availability a major challenge.
Thousands of people like Dildar Ahmed have to spend hours every day searching for water.
Dildar Ahmad says, “Earlier there was a well near our house from which we used to get clean water but now it has dried up. Now we have to go to remote areas for water.
Dildar Ahmed’s story highlights the serious problem of water scarcity in Balochistan.
In the main city of Balochistan, Quetta, water tankers are seen everywhere, people are forced to buy and use this water.
Citizens say that the traincar mafia is ruling the city. Water is available from Rs 1500 to Rs 2500 per tanker. People are forced to spend their huge capital on buying water for drinking and other necessities of life.
Muhammad Ayub, a resident of Quetta’s Sariab Road, told Balochistan 24 that his monthly salary is Rs 25,000, out of which he only buys water worth Rs 4,000 every month.
According to Muhammad Ayub: WASA pipes have been installed in his area, but no water has come in them for the last 15 years, the tubewell of the area has dried up and new tubewells are not being installed by the government, public representatives are also concerned about this problem. No steps are being taken for resolution.
As a result of climate change, the underground water level in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, has dropped to an alarming level.
According to experts, there are reports of groundwater level going down to 1000 feet which is a very alarming situation.
Quetta is one of the areas where water resources are already limited. However, in recent years water use has increased due to climate change, lack of rainfall and growing population. Due to which the underground water level is continuously decreasing.
Prof. Dr. Deen Muhammad, a geologist from Quetta, says that the main reasons for the decrease in underground water reserves include climate change, decrease in rainfall, and irrational use of water.
“If this trend is not stopped immediately, Quetta may face severe water shortage in future.”
According to data provided by experts, the groundwater level was 200 feet in the 1980s, which has gone down to 1000 feet by 2024. This is a reduction of almost 80% which is cause for concern.
Vasa officials, the water supply agency of Quetta city, say that the daily requirement of water in the city is 50 million gallons. 3 crore gallons of water is being supplied to the citizens by WASA while the water shortage in the city is 2 crore gallons.
The administration says that before Spin Kariz and Willi Tangi Dam, water was supplied to the city in abundance, but now it has also reduced and the population of the city has also increased.
According to the data, there are more than 400 tubewells of Vasa in Quetta city, out of which around 100 tubewells have dried up.
Water scarcity in Quetta has not only made daily life difficult but also severely damaged the economy.
If an immediate solution to this problem is not found, the situation may become more serious in the coming days.
Better water management and reservoir restoration measures are needed at the government level to overcome this crisis.
Experts say that the government needs to take immediate steps to solve the water problem.
These include better management of water bodies, public awareness, and stricter laws to prevent water wastage. Additionally, construction of new dams and rainwater harvesting projects are also essential.
