Our Correspondent Quetta
Governor Balochistan Amanullah Khan Yasinzai on Thursday said the dropping of ground water level in Balochistan was alarming, especially in the provincial capital Quetta.
“In this regard, if timely steps are not taken, we may face many serious problems in the near future”, Governor Yasinzai said to control environmental pollution, they need to create awareness among the people about the importance of trees as they could play a key role to restore environment.
He expressed these views while talking to the Representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Ms. Rebekha Bell in Pakistan at the Governor House, Quetta during meeting.
On the occasion, the Governor of Balochistan said global warming was in fact a clear global warning for the whole world, adding, it was high time to take immediate and timely steps at the national and international levels for countering this major issue.
He said more than fifty percent economy of the province was dependent on the agriculture and livestock, adding, lack of rainfall and under ground level would adversely affect progress of the area.
The governor said only financial support and guidance from international organizations could help tackle major challenges like global warming, modernizing agriculture and livestock sectors in the province and enhancing capacity of the workforce.
Balochistan government has earmarked Rs 8.837 billion in the budgetary allocation for the execution of 510 new projects to provide clean drinking water to the masses.
“With the completion of these projects, the drinking water issue would be resolved in the province,” an official of Balochistan government said here on Thursday.
He said these schemes included water supply schemes, establishment of water and sanitation system, water storage tanks and construction of various water pipeline systems in the province.
The government is taking short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to address the water shortage in Quetta.
Under the short term strategy, the government has earmarked Rs 1.657 billion in the fiscal year 2021-22, as a non-developmental grant to provide additional funds to WASA Quetta.
The medium term measures included construction of various dams on the outskirts of Quetta city including Mangi Dam and Srah Khullah Dam, besides installation of water treatment plants and water conservation tanks.
Under long-term measures, feasibility studies of construction of large dams and the Water supply scheme for Quetta from dams were under process.
The Balochisatn government was working to install solar system at water supply schemes and water treatment plants at various cities of the province to ensure drinking water facility to the masses without any disruption.
The government has also included the project of replacement of rusty pipeline, especially in Quetta and other cities of the province to supply clean drinking water to the residents.
