Govt committed for preserving, developing water resources: Nouraiz
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Ministry of Science and Technology Tuesday okayed a project, aimed at assessing the existing water resources of Kharan-Chaghi desert of Balochistan.
The project - Rainwater Harvesting and Desertification Control in Kharan-Chaghi Desert of Balochistan - will cost Rs 37.37 million and will be completed in three years by Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR).
Minister for Science and Technology. Ch. Nouraiz Shakoor said the government is doing it’s utmost to meet the targets of preserving and developing the water resources according to Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) 2005-10. Balochistan province is facing surface and ground water scarcity limiting its full potential of livestock and agricultural productivity.
The province has passed through seven years (1998-2004) persistent drought, which has caused extensive damage to land, water, crops, orchards, bio-diversity and range and feed resources. The proposed project aims to assess the existing water resources of the area, control accelerated desertification and soil erosion processes, he said.
Nouraiz said advanced rainwater-harvesting technologies will be used to build ponds, compact earth-banks, dikes, ridges and basins. The catchments will be better managed and steams runoff due to precipitation will be properly stored. For sand dune stabilization, grazing of livestock and cutting of native plants will be prohibited in the area.
He said a Desert Research Centre in the Kharan-Chagai desert will also be established as a part of the project.
The Kharan and Chaghai districts are lying in the main river basin known as Haumun-e-Mushkhel possessing eight sub-river basins namely: Koh-e-Dalil, Nokkundi, Dalbandin, Naushki, Basima, Basso Rud, Ladgasht and Buzurg, comprising total catchment area of 8.35 Mha.
All these river basins have about 68 cusecs of surface water potential, which can be used for water harvesting and groundwater recharge.
The project will also look to harness the dangerous but potentially useful energy of a number of hill torrents and streams of the region.