industrialization and climate change on water resources and environmental protection capabilities of cities and small towns

The World Water Day in 2011 was intended to focus international attention on the impacts of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and climate change on water resources and environmental protection capabilities of cities and small towns. Key issues such as the growing urban water and sanitation demand, increased pollution from municipal and industrial discharges, climate change and its unforeseen risks and challenges, over-exploitation of available water resources and better targeting of the urban poor were discussed at a seminar on “World Water Day 2011” organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Monday. The speakers included Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja, Sr. Advisor at SDPI; Prof. S. Shahid Ali of Bahria University, Farzana Yasmin, Research Associate at SDPI, Sanaullah Aman, Director General, Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, Head of Climate Change Study Centre at SDPI.

Anusha Sherazi, Project associate of SDPI moderated the proceedings.Sharing a detailed presentation, Dr Khwaja said that total waste water discharge 7,590 million cubic meter (2010)/annum; 15,180 MCM (2015) and Industrial: 5,310 MCM (2010); 10,620 MCM (2015). He further referred to Pakistan environmental protection act, PEPA, 1997, according to which “no person shall discharge or emit or allow the discharge or emission of any effluent or waste or air pollutant or noise in an amount, concentration or level which is in excess of the national environmental quality standards (NEQS) or, where applicable, the standards established under sub-clause (i) of clause (g) of sub-section (i) section 6 (section 11), PEPA, 1997. He said that, according to PRPA, 1997, the federal government levy a pollution charge on any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of sub-section (i) to be calculated at such rate, and collected in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed under section 11, PEPA,1997. He recommended the enforcement of NEQS, SMART, pollution charge, levying and collect of pollution charge by provincial/local governments. He said that there is a need of waste water discharge licensing system, waste water treatment plan, IEE/EIA, promotion of Cleaner Production Center and rapid industrial development within industrial zones. Treatment plants should also be established for both industrial and municipal water management. He also highlighted the working issues of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and implementation status of pollution charges in the country.

Sanaullah Aman discussed various issues faced by CDA water management wing and appealed for institutional support as well the financial support. He said that capital’s water system was essentially based on dams while his institution was making efforts to rehabilitate existing supply system which was an old system involving pipe leakage as well as parallel water and sanitation lines etc. However CDA was in difficult situation to tackles these critical challenges due to lack of financial resources. He was of the view that CDA would engage civil society particularly, sustainable development policy institute, SDPI for creating awareness, conduct survey and competitions to bring about needed changes in the state of safe drinking water in the capital.

Shakeel Ahmed Ramay raised concerns over the lack of proper infrastructure for water and sanitation in the country. He said that there was a need to raise issues of water scarcity and emerging problems. He further highlighted that there was an unequal distribution of water resource in the developing world. He strongly recommended immediate improvements in water governance.

Dr Shahid Syed discussed the situation of chemical and biological contamination of water. He urged that clean drinking water should be available for all human beings on earth while highlighting the importance of water for human. He said that human body organisms were composed of much water––70%-95%. He said that it was necessary for everything the body does need water because it carries food and waste in and out of cells and also keeps temperature at the balanced level. He lamented that in every fifteen seconds a child somewhere dies from a water borne disease due to dirty water. He further said that in developing countries, women and children spend hours each day walking miles to collect dirty water. “Carrying heavy water containers takes up valuable time and energy and it stops children from going to school and reduces the time in which they could be making a living” he added. This ultimately results more and more rural people were forced to leave their homes in search of a better quality of life including clean water.

Farzana Yasmeen said that 66% of the human body was made up of water while just 2% dehydration decreases human performance by around 20%. She recommended a human being should drink at least 1½ litres of water a day. She informed that 80% of all illness in developing countries was caused by water related diseases as 90% of wastewater in developing countries was discharged directly into rivers and streams without treatment. She also gave an account of water supply system for the capital, Islamabad .

Earlier, Anusha Sherazi briefed the participants that the objective of the seminar was to highlight key urban water management issues and priorities for action. The idea was to raise the profile of urban water management by presenting the current challenges, achievements and future prospects in the face of climate change-related risks and uncertainties. She hoped that this seminar will form the basis of the campaigns, through out the year, starting from the World Water Day 2011, by encouraging governments, organizations, communities, and individuals around the world to actively engage in addressing the water and sanitation challenges facing many cities and small towns, especially in the developing countries.