Water crisis in South Asia
Posted on : April 5, 2021Author : Ankita Chatterjee
“Not only the thirsty seeks the water, the water as well seeks the thirsty”- Rumi
Water is such a precious liquid. We feel relieved when this cool, clear liquid flows down our mouth, quenching our thirst in the way. Besides, doesn’t the sound of flowing water feel soothing to our ears? This is the magic of water. Water calms down all living beings. It generates life and preserves it as well. However, despite the earth being called a “Blue Planet”, the dearth of water can be felt in every region of the world including South Asia as well. Access to clear drinking water is increasingly becoming a scarcity, on top of which, having a piped waterline connection is an added privilege.
Major capital cities in South Asia- New Delhi, Dhaka, Islamabad, Kabul and Kathmandu- are facing extreme water crisis with the groundwater level receding at an alarming rate. Home to nearly 1.6 billion people, South Asian cities are increasingly feeling the burden of rapid population growth and urbanization. It is estimated that 22 of 32 Indian cities face daily water shortages. In Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, many locals have grown accustomed to waiting in queues for hours. to obtain drinking water. In Karachi, Pakistan, electricity and water shortages have led to protests and citywide unrest.
“Water, water, everywhere but not a drop to drink” aptly describes the problem of water in South Asia – a problem of scarcity amid abundance. Transboundary rivers such as the Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra have defined the geography, history, and culture of South Asia for centuries and are critical to economic growth, food and energy security, and sustainable development within the region. But over the last few decades, these rivers have come under considerable pressure from industrial development, urbanization, population growth, and environmental pollution. This situation has been compounded by poor domestic management of water resources and increasing variability in rainfall and climate patterns that have made South Asia highly susceptible to floods, droughts, and natural disasters.
South Asia’s per capita water availability is already below the world average. The region could face widespread water scarcity — less than 1,000 cubic meters available per person according to a South Asia water expert in Washington, DC. Bangalore, Karachi and Kabul are among the 10 cities in the world that are “on the verge of an imminent water crisis”, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a research and advocacy group based in New Delhi.
Almost 600 million people in India are at high risk of being unable to continue relying on surface water. The Asian Development Bank has forecast that the water supply in India may fall 50 per cent below demand by 2030. But the city which requires immediate attention is the capital of Afghanistan- Kabul.
Kabul- A case study
Afghanistan’s ancient proverb—“May Kabul be without gold rather than snow”—refers to snowmelt from the Hindu Kush Mountains, a primary source of Afghanistan’s water supply.
Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is facing extreme water shortage. With an approximate population of 6 million people, Kabul’s demand for water is far greater than its natural supply. Wells and water reservoirs are quickly drying up and groundwater level is running low. Shortage of rain and snow, massive booming population and wasteful consumption have drained Kabul’s water basin. Several areas of Afghanistan, including Kabul, are surrounded by mountains, which are covered by snow during the winter months. However, short spells of rain and snowfall, coupled with the adverse effects of climate change, have accelerated depletion of Kabul’s water basin. And when it does rain, most of the water ends up in sewers because almost all the streets and sidewalks of the city are asphalted. This means only a limited amount of rain or snow water is absorbed by the earth, resulting in low groundwater levels.
According to utility Afghanistan Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Corporation, every year 80 million cubic metres (2.8 billion cubic feet) of water are extracted from Kabul’s aquifers which is nearly double the natural recharge rate through precipitation. As a result, Kabul’s water table has fallen by at least 30 metres (100 feet) in recent years. Only 20% of Kabul is connected to the city’s piped water system, leaving many residents to ensure their own supply by digging wells that are often shared by multiple families. Moreover, there are recurring issues of deadly water disputes in Kabul with people resorting to the use of weapons during water rationing.
Besides its scarcity in Kabul, most of the water is also undrinkable, according to the National Environmental Protection Agency. Around 70 percent of the city’s groundwater is contaminated by waste and chemicals from leaky household septic tanks and industrial plants that can cause diarrhoea or other illnesses if the water is not boiled or purified properly. Around 73 percent of the population in Afghanistan relies on improvised and inadequate facilities to supply water, while water sources are becoming increasingly polluted and overexploited in places like Kabul.
To recover from years of armed conflict, Afghanistan needs a stable water supply, but its sources are growing stressed by severe droughts. The Norwegian Refugee Council estimated that 2 out of 3 provinces were impacted by drought, putting two million people at risk of hunger. Improving the country’s water governance is urgent to avoid both internal and regional conflicts by stabilizing its economy and its citizens’ livelihoods. It is envisaged that many who survived the decades of war may die from lack of water in the future if people and the government fail to take necessary steps to prevent water wastage. Improved living standards of many households also implies that more people are showering and washing cars than ever before. Hence, lack of public awareness about water conservation and no restrictions on its usage means much of it is wasted.
To address the water crisis in Kabul, the government has launched a novel plan. Afghanistan’s government has ordered the construction of nearly 2 million trenches and 25 small dams to address the water crisis in Kabul . Also, around 13 million saplings will be planted along these trenches. Efforts to increase connections to the municipal piped water network and improved sanitation systems are under way but the progress is slow as authorities struggle to keep up with the demand in one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Moreover, to replenish the city’s subterranean reserves, authorities are using a television campaign and the influence of religious leaders to encourage households to save water. Even the Taliban issued a statement to followers to “pray for rain.” The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is exploring options like creating large ponds that trap rainwater long enough for it to seep into the soil and recharge aquifers. The ADB is also considering using pumps to inject the water directly into the basins and the construction of a dam on the outskirts of Kabul. All these will take time but if performed with sincerity and efforts are made to spread public awareness, then the crisis of water could be alleviated to some extent.
Kabul is under a situation of water stress. It is seeking a solution with lower impact and lower cost technology that could fix the water problem quickly as we all know that there is no life without water.
References
https://asiafoundation.org/2015/03/25/south-asias-water-crisis-a-problem-of-scarcity-amid-abundance/
https://missionsbox.org/news/world-water-crisis-is-affecting-south-asia/
https://phys.org/news/2019-01-kabul-crisis-drought-population-strain.html
https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/report/93156/photogallery-afghanistans-water-crisis
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1757096/world
Ankita Chatterjee
Intern, Asia in Global Affairs
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