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#Voices #rivers #Political #Economy
IVES has always been in the heart of human existence. From ancient times, they have provided people with food, water and people to settle and build communities. Great civilizations from Egypt to the Indus Valley, along the banks of the river, emerged. Today, millions of people rely on rivers to grow crops and earn a living. In Pakistan, the life of rivers continues for numerous people. However, instead of a sign of life and abundance, they are becoming the focus of rapidly growing tensions and conflicts.
In Sindh, fishermen, farmers and political workers, including many members of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, have strongly opposed the canal plans. Many people in Sindh claim that these rivers will deprive them of their water.
In Swat, the upper Swat people, especially the Toroli community, are resisting and protesting against the proposed hydropower projects on the Swat River, which was launched by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization. These projects intend to bend the stream into underground tunnels for energy production.
Locals fear that this will lead to a devastating blow to their economy, which mostly depends on tourism. If natural water flow is disrupted, then other sectors, such as agriculture and fishing, will also hurt.
The popular movements of ‘protecting’ rivers have a long and painful history. Development on rivers often comes at heavy costs. It can cause homelessness and a change in lifestyle.
The construction of the Tarbela Dam in the 1970s displaced thousands of people. Later, some of them complained that they had not received any pay.
When the Darle Hydropower Project was constructed in Bahrain, Swat, locals were promised royalty and employment opportunities. Locals say they got nothing.
According to some studies, the Diamer Bhasha Dam will displace about 35 35,000 people in 31 villages, which will sink 4,100 houses and sink 6 square kilometers of fields to build 100 square kilometers.
More than 40 % of them have been forced to migrate to urban areas in search of economic stability and have to avoid poverty, says Toroli, who is on the banks of the Swat River. People who almost rely on the river and its tourism. More development projects threaten to remove more of them. They see it as a threat to their unique language and culture, which has been growing for centuries.
Sindh Delta has shrunk in Sindh – from about 13,900 square kilometers in 1883 to 1,067 square kilometers in 2018 – due to low flow of fresh water. This has destroyed the maritime life and 60 % of the region’s mangrove forests are gone. Fishing, once the backbone of coastal communities, has been pushed on the edge. Annual fish caches declined – in the 1950s, from 5000 tonnes to 300 tonnes from 2019. More than 1.2 million people have been forced to leave the Indus Delta.
Pakistan will have to re -consider its energy strategy. In combination with solar and air power, small, community -led hydro projects, it can meet the country’s energy needs, without stopping the destructive tools on its people, rivers and environmental systems.
Some workers say that Pakistan’s water management methods continue to follow samples of the colonial era, in which engineers have designed and designed and created canals and barrels without engaging with local voices. He says federal authorities are making critical decisions without consulting local stakeholders.
Some of the affected communities view the dams and barrages as a form of removal of resources, which benefits far away urban centers at the expense of the local population. When the projects are suggested upwards, many Sindhis fear that they will steal short water. In Swat and Qatar, the concerns are different but are just as important. These regions relies heavily on the flow of traditional rivers for farming, fishing and tourism.
Each of these offers a unique set of challenges. Yet human suffering, cultural cuts, forced migration and non -refundable loss of biological diversity are common topics.
Large dams change the rhythm of rivers, which changes the environmental system and marine biological diversity. For example, the Swat River has a number of fish species, including the famous trout. This water life is in danger. The Darle Hydropower Project has already diverted some water into the tunnels, which has transferred the balance of the river.
In Sindh, the proposed canal projects are expected to reduce fish population, harass the maritime ecosystem and reduce carbon exploration. Water logging can intensify in some areas and decrease in fertility. It is feared that the mangroves will shrink, and the delta will dry.
Some of these projects will also promote the climate risk. In Swat, bending the flow of stream can increase the local temperature and disturb the weather patterns. The region was most affected during the devastating flood of 2022. Qatar Bhasha is located in a delicate ice zone. There, the development work is at risk of destabilizing glaciers and mobilizing the icy lake floods.
There are alternatives to hydroelectric development. Pakistan has a wide, unused capacity for solar and air energy.
The laws of the acquisition of land associated with British rule are another issue. They allow the state to occupy the land for the “public purpose”. It is alleged that compensation is often delayed and inadequate. The UN announcement on the rights of the mandate of the indigenous people is free, first and foremost consent. In practice, detailed consultation with local communities is rare.
Another comprehensive and sustainable approach is needed. Instead of imposing projects, the government should seek the consent of a real society, ensuring that the most affected people have a decisive voice in the formation of their future. Transparent feasibility studies, strong environmental diagnosis and fair compensation methods are essential.
Pakistan should also re -consider its energy strategy. In combination with solar and air strength, small, community -led hydro projects, it can provide some of the country’s energy needs, without stopping the destructive tools on its people, rivers and environmental systems.
The writer is freely supportive
