Baluchistan Arid Region

Baluchistan Arid Region

Introduction3

Background3

Presentation of Options4

Effective Canal Irrigation System:4

Building Small dams:5

Proper Storage System:5

Requirements:5

Comparison of Options6

Conclusion:8

Recommendations:8

References11

Baluchistan Arid Region

Introduction

The most arid region that I have chosen is Baluchistan, a province residing in Pakistan. Agriculture is the main source of income but only a third of the region is arable.

The main reason why I have chosen this region is because of the fact that such an eminent area in terms of its location and the resources it has. (Rashed 2005, p.6)

Background

This area also has large mineral resources like gold, coal, copper, silver, platinum, aluminum and especially uranium. The issues that this region faces currently are shortage of water supply, food, shelter etc.

Its scarcity of water is very worrying, because it caters to 2,000 wells pumping non-renewable fossil water from aquifers buried deep that are running low.

Recently the floods that have occurred in Pakistan are of a magnitude never before seen in the country. The floods have devastated the lives and livelihoods of the people of Baluchistan.

Restrictions due to security reasons have further aggravated the water shortage issue. There are wells dug in the region and through pipeline and tubes water is supplied. They even receive water from one of the tributaries of the river Indus but yet again the issue is still not resolved.

Rainfall in this area is noticeably less as compare to other parts of the country. The Water can be removed with pumps. Over time the water well yield goes down, there is a decreased flow and sometimes reaches the extraction is not possible. This is mainly due to the premature aging metal pipes filters (screens) and blind (casing), suffering over time processes corrosion and fouling.

Presentation of Options

There are various options that this arid region should incorporate in order to address the water issue.

Effective Canal Irrigation System:

The current canal system of this region is not very efficient and effective. They should take measures to improve their canal system. They have a canal system but it is not very extensive and usually because of the fact that they are built for so long they have become corrosive.

Hence they should also try catering to this issue as well. Further the recent flood have spoiled the entire canal sysyem. Hence they need to rework on it as people in this arid region are facing a lot of isues.

Building Small dams:

Apart from this another option that they should incorporate is that they should have small dams built in the region. This is because although this area is large in terms of space, but population wise it is less and sparsely populated. Hence small dams could help meeting the needs of those that are located in small groups.

Proper Storage System:

There is no proper storage system available currently. It is essential to consider this option an important one. The water that melts from the glaciers of the Karakorum Range etc should be stored in a place and utilize it in times of ...