ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/09/19/alternative-solutions/

• Spending on restricting population growth is worthwhile

Polluted waterways are a major environmental issue, and the looming spectre of extreme water shortage only adds to it. The efficacy of dams as a solution for the shortage is surrounded by controversy, but it is believed by many to be a solution. Let’s hope that proposed projects work and do indeed make a difference. Dare anyone say otherwise?

That however does not mean alternative solutions do not exist.

The versatile people of Pakistan manage to find a solution for every problem, which is providential in the short term since they, the people are unlikely to be helped otherwise. Generally, the more devious the solution the more it is appreciated, and so ‘kundas’ are placed on power lines, tiny gizmos that divert power into unauthorised areas. It was apparently ‘placed on record in the Pakistan Senate in 2013 that in the previous five years Pakistan had lost Rs90 billion in electricity theft and line losses.’

The same devious/versatile mindset comes in useful where water is concerned.

The problem of water theft in the Punjab led the government to get technical and financial assistance from the World Bank last year. This invariable reaching out for assistance from international organisations poses a problem in itself.

Assistance from international organisations may involve payment at a later date, or installments, neither of which translates to free. Eventually, placed in the same hands, it does little but add to the ever-rising national debt. Who says that sensors that monitor the flow in dams, barrages, canals and tributaries will not be tampered with and have their own ‘kundas’ attached as on power lines? In the case of water, kundas are replaced by deliberately created breaches in dams, and tubes that are somehow sunk to steal water away from other farmers, resulting in poor crops and great financial loss. It is the affluent landlords who are indulging in this practice in collusion with officials. Sensors, once installed can be fiddled with too. Remember, we’re a versatile people, with a wealth of experience in such practices. There really is no substitute for simple putting a stop to corruption and making sure that offenders are brought to account.

Imagine also the difference it will make if the population that produces this waste is not as large and stops growing at the rate it presently does

The large sums of money that are supposed to go into building massive structures that provide water (over 8.5 billion dollars) will hardly be enough for the construction, as well as the resettlement of the three villages and several industrial units that will be submerged. Less can be spent instead on ensuring that officials do not collude with users, who do not seek that collusion in the first place.

What if for some reason the promised structure is not built. What will happen to the funds that have been collected? Will they go into another glittering project that some other important official sets up as his retirement trophy?

Pakistan, a poor country, needs to think small to achieve big. Our waste problems need to be dealt with on as much a priority as anything else, so that waterways – existing and planned are not clogged by the staggering amount of waste produced by the nation. Expenditure on waste management will have more far reaching consequences. As will expenditure on population planning.

DHA settlements account for hundreds of thousands of people in the country. Let’s take these alone as an example. The Authority, very properly, provides each house with a roll of plastic bags which are supposed to contain the sum total of household rubbish, and these are collected every day. It’s all very laudable. Each house in DHA throws out at least four plastic bags a day plus that one large bag issued by DHA. That makes hundreds of thousands of plastic bags multiplied by at least five, all of which will lie around somewhere and many of them will end up in the waterways, drains and landfill, and none of these bags will degrade over time, because they are not biodegradable.

Would it work if DHA, rich as it is, provides each home with a reusable trash can which must NOT be lined with plastic. All the rubbish can be thrown into this and the rubbish and the can may be collected every day, the dirty can replaced with a clean one. The dirty cans can be washed and brought back on one of the following trips.

That, or DHA can invest in biodegradable bags which is by far an easier and better solution. Just imagine the millions of non-degradable plastic that will no longer clog the waterways as a result of this small change. Small, because the armed forces and their organisations do not lack funds after all.

Imagine also the difference it will make if the population that produces this waste is not as large and stops growing at the rate it presently does. This will also mean that the population requiring water is smaller, and does not grow the way it presently does. Spending on restricting population growth is therefore worthwhile, every which way you look at it.