ISLAMABAD: The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) is pursuing an innovative project that would lead to maximum utilisation of rainwater harvesting in different sectors all over the country.
The project costing $6.2m includes installation of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems covering 40,000 houses of 20 union councils in 10 districts of earthquake-affected areas benefiting over population of 240,000.
It offers an affordable, simple, sustainable and reliable alternative water source. Not only rainwater harvesting will supply water for indoor and outdoor use, it will also protect the environment from detrimental non-point source pollution by reducing rooftop run off.
The devastating 2008 earthquake not only destroyed other infrastructure in 30,000 sq km area of KP and AJK, but also adversely affected the existing 4,000 water supplies and many freshwater resources such as springs, wells and ponds.
Erra accepted this challenge for converting it into an opportunity through providing relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction process. As the earthquake affected areas have not appropriate water sources so provision of water is highly difficult due to high altitude.
Development of local source of freshwater could be made sustainable in such areas by adapting simple and fishable rainwater harvesting measures and then storage at properly identified locations.
The history of rainwater harvesting is centuries old in Pakistan. The technique is under practices in many parts of the country in different forms.
In Balochistan, rainwater harvesting is being practiced at least in four modes: ‘manda sailaba’, ‘khushkaba’, ‘bamdat’ and storage and retention of run off in delay action and leaky dams. In Southern Punjab rainwater is conserved in the form of ‘rudkohi’ and in Potohar region it is stored in small dams.
These practices were entirely conventional in applications till the last quarter of 20th century. In 1970s the involvement of international community with the local research and development agencies popularised rainwater harvesting in the world.
Continued research and development activities for supplementing rainwater in water source in different sectors of the society have now introduced the techniques in urban areas.
Capital Development Authority is also implementing a pilot project for use of rainwater to recharge groundwater that can lead to widespread use in its management in urban areas of the country.
Erra Deputy Chairman Lieutenant General Sardar Mahmood Ali Khan said, ‘I hope once this programme would be fully implemented in heavy rain prone areas of Pakistan, it will ensure culture of conservation and rational use of rainwater at the community and domestic level, besides giving support to environmental safeguards.”
Internews
