No hope for end to water shortage in Balochistan   QUETTA: Balochistan, once known for its crystal clear water, is now facing the worst water scarcity as during the last decade, things have changed drastically. The shortage of water coupled with depleting underground water reservoirs augurs that something horrible is in the offing for the people of this province. The water shortage continues since 1997. The drought turned severe in 2000 when the calamity, originating from Aranji, a sub-Tehsil of Khuzdar district, gripped some 22 districts of the province within few weeks and then caused mass migration amid hunger and diseases. Although the military government claimed to have succeeded, to a large extent, in overcoming the drought situation, yet another severe wave of drought looms large over Balochistan. The climatic changes during the last one decade in the province, particularly of the provincial capital, are witnessed as a bad omen. There was the time when heavy snow and rainfalls in winters, used to recharge the underground water, the seasonal streams and rivers used to cause flash floods. However, no one ever realised to preserve the floodwater for a rainy day. Data show substantial drop in annual average rainfall in Balochistan from 19.5 inches in 1982 to less than 4 inches in 1999, consequently, the underground water level ebbed further. It is estimated that at present, the annual recharge of underground water is about 38 cusecs against the annual discharge of 67 cusecs, with a deficit of 29 cusecs. The water level is falling down at the rate of 10 feet per year. Even hundreds of Karazes--the underground water tunnels--have almost dried up, which is alarming. In certain areas of Balochistan the boring has to be done at a depth of about 1,000 feet to fetch water. Due to long dry spell and depleting underground water resources the agriculture of the province is badly affected as the farmers have cut their orchards in most of the areas to arrange for firewood. Quetta and Mastung valleys are fertile but water shortage means no cultivation. Hundreds of orchards in Pishin, Kanozai, Loralai and other areas of Balochistan are telling a sad tale of the negligence of the successive governments that did nothing to pre-empt the situation. Most of the orchards, particularly apple, almond and pomegranate could not bear fruit, last season, while the health of livestock--another major source of income of the rural people--also affected due to paucity of fodder. The gravity of the situation can be assessed from the fact that the farmers in Khanozai area, some 80 kilometres from Quetta, have cut trees to use these as fuel during the cold weather. The officials of the Irrigation Department find the solution of the present situation in the construction of maximum dams in Balochistan. However, the geologists plead that the concept of delay-action dams be given second thought as the construction of 130 dams in the province has done nothing to improve the situation. The Balochistan government claimed to have discovered new water resources from the foot of Koh-e-Murdar, a hilly area on the outskirts of the provincial metropolis. The officials are optimistic about the resolution of water scarcity for Quetta. "There is no more scarcity of water in Quetta as the issue has been resolved after the discovery of new water resources", Governor Amirul Mulk Mengal told a delegation of District Management Group, which met him in March last. The governor claimed that the discovery would be sufficient for at least two decades. On the other hand the dwellers of most of the localities of Quetta are complaining about the acute shortage of water and ask if there is water why is it not being supplied. Tuesday, April 10, 2001 By Muhammad Ejaz Khan  The News International