DEPLETING SITUATION UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES IN BALOCHISTAN

Background The region of Balochistan lies in the arid zone and receives very scanty rainfall. Its distribution varies considerably in time and space. With low and erratic precipitation and extremely high evaporation rates, surface storage offers limited potential. Therefore, the main source of sustained water supplies is from underground which has been an important source of irrigation water in Balochistan. Prior to eighties when there was no electricity in the rural areas, groundwater was obtained from dugwells, springs and through karezes. However, later on, electrification program, improved communication network and favourable prices of agriculture and horticulture produce resulted in the replacement of karez system with tubewell technology for the development of groundwater resources. By 1960, the number of tubewell drilled by government agencies were only 75, whereas by year 1999 according to Agricultural Statistics of Balochistan, the number of tubewell drilled by government/private agencies have gone to 22,455. Between 1971 to 1995, the area under tubewell irrigation increased from 45,000 hectares to 214,891 hectares with the increase in crop intensity to over 100% and there has been a major shift from traditional low value crops to high value cash crops. This development has been at the cost of over exploitation of groundwater resources. In some valleys like Quetta, Pishin, Mastung, Mangochar, Loralai and Qilla Saifullah, the water table has gone down at a an alarming rate causing a state of groundwater mining.

Irrigation Practices

The presently known water resources are meagre in respect of cultiviable land of the Province. According to the published records, presently only about 49% of the irrigable land is under irrigation of which 29% of the area comes under canal irrigation, 6% by springs and karezes and 14% of the area by tubewells and wells. Karezes, which although has been in practice for centuries have fallen prey to electrification and groundwater development by pumps. It has been surveyed that the land and climate in the Province is extremely suitable for high valued deciduous fruits such as apples, almonds, pomegranates and apricots. Flood irrigation is commonly practiced. Agriculture is practiced by water harvesting, flood irrigation and by the perennial irrigation methods. Irrigation by canal system is practiced in Nasirabad, Tamboo, Sibi and Lasbela districts.

GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

Precipitation is the main source of runoff in the catchment areas of the river system in the basins. A large number of rivers and streams stemming from mountain ranges and highlands coast in Balochistan are ephemeral. No major storage dam exist in the Province to store flash flood which are estimated to be of order of 10 million acre feet. Groundwater is the main dependable source of water for irrigation, agriculture, domestic and industrial use. It occurs both in consolidated (hard) and unconsolidated (alluvium) rocks. In hard rocks, good aquifers exist in zones rife with joints, fractures, fissures, liniments and cavern. Unconsolidated deposits with good aquifers are in coarse material, that is, gravel and sand.
GROUNDWATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

Historically, groundwater has been an important source of irrigation water in Balochistan. It is extracted from dug wells, tubewells and on a limited scale through karez system. The electrification program introduced the advent of tubewells for the development of groundwater resources and there has been a rapid increase in the drilling activities over the past 20 years with some major benefits but also some disadvantages. Till 1989,
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approximately 22% of the perennial land in the Province derived its irrigated water from underground water resources such as karezes, springs, open wells and tubewells but by the year 1998, the irrigated land under this source has gone up to 34.5% with water from tubewells alone contributing 22.8%. Domestic water requirements are largely met by groundwater exploitation. Table-1 summarizes the number of tube wells drilled by different government agencies from 1950 to 2000. Table 1: YEARWISE DRILLING OF TUBEWELLS BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Period 1950-60 1961-65 1966-70 1971-75 1976-80 1981-85 1986-90 1991-95 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-till date Total
Source:

I&P Deptt. 75 80 00 81 89 147 174 56 33 13 39 41 104 140 187 183 1442

BDA
64 45 68 32 24 42 275

PHE Deptt. 157 221 62 45 45 41 43 42 38 33 727

WAPDA 29 143 411 272 446 375 91 1,767

Tube wells drilled under DIMRC 489 489

Total 75 80 29 224 500 483 822 720 218 82 126 82 147 182 225 705 4700

Tube well Database, September 2004, WRPD&M Directorate, I&P, Government of Balochistan.

LEGEND I&P Deptt. = Balochistan. BDA = PHE Deptt. Irrigation and Power Department, Government of

Balochistan Development Authority. = Public Health Engineering Department, Government of Balochistan. WAPDA = Water and Power Development Authority, Government of Pakistan.
IMPACT OF GROUNDWATER DEVELOPMENT 3

Availability of dependable and manageable source of water by tubewell technology has lead to a phenomenal increase in the area under orchards causing a major shift from traditional low value crops to high value cash crops with a positive impact on the economy of the Province. The tubewell development has increased the cropping intensity to over 100%. According to the data given in Table-14, the number of tube-wells drilled by government agencies from 1950 to 2000 is 3,445. The Agricultural Statistics of Balochistan for 1998-99 gives the total number of tube-wells drilled by government and private agencies as 22,453. To ascertain it inventory of watering points by Water Resources Planning Development & Monitoring Directorate is under way. However, the indiscriminate and unplanned development of groundwater resources by tube well technology has resulted in over exploitation of these resources in quite a few valleys causing continuous drop in water level of the aquifer. The unsustainable groundwater development has affected the karez flow and collapsing of tunnels making a lot of these redundant. According to a report published by Planning and Investigation Directorate, WAPDA in June 1992, out of 1,000 karezes in Balochistan, 464 are in good running condition, 266 are with declining flow and 270 have gone dry. The maximum number of karezes with decline inflow and becoming dry are in Quetta valley. There is no updated information available on the latest situation of karezes.

Groundwater Monitoring

Monitoring the fluctuation of groundwater levels has been started in Balochistan during 1988 in Quetta, Mastung, Mangochar and Pishin, sub basins of Pishin Lora Basin. The network was started with a total number of 222 points consisting of 15 automatic water level recorders, 12 piezometers and 195 open surface wells. The network was handed over to Bureau of Water Resources, Irrigation and Power Department, Government of Balochistan, in June, 1994. By 2001, the monitoring points
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have reduced to 83 because of drying up of open surface wells or conversion of these dug wells into deep wells fitted with centrifugal pumps. The latest status of monitoring network is given in TABLE-2.

Table 2: MONITORING NETWORK MAINTAINED BY BUREAU OF WATER RESOURCES (ORIGINAL AND AS ON 2001)
Sub-Basin Quetta North Quetta South Pishin Mastung Mangochar Total Points Total Points 1996 38 11 49 33 04 135 Dried 14 02 22 12 02 52 No. of AWLR* 10 0 0 02 01 13 Piezometer well 01 02 01 01 0 05 Open Wells 13 07 26 18 01 65 Existing Network 2001 24 09 27 21 02 83

Source: Bureau of Water Resources, Government of Balochistan, 2001 * Automatic Water Level Recorders

The negative impact of the unplanned development of tubewells has resulted in the over exploitation of groundwater resources with continuous drop of the aquifer. The monitoring network has shown drop in groundwater levels in Quetta, Pishin, Mastung and Mangochar valleys indicating condition of groundwater mining.
TABLE-3 gives the monitoring results.

Table-3: MONITORING RESULTS-PISHIN LORA BASIN

Sub-Basin Quetta North Quetta South Pishin Mastung Mangochar Decline in Water Level Period Average (Feet) (Current Rate more 4.40 than ) 3.00 (Current Rate) (Current Rate) (Current Rate) (Current Rate) 5.00 3.00 5.00

Source: Groundwater Level Fluctuation Report-Bureau of Water Resources, Government of Balochistan. 1996-2003

GROUNDWATER POTENTIAL OF VARIOUS BASINS

Precipitation is the main source of groundwater recharge in Balochistan. Groundwater in Balochistan occurs both in consolidated and unconsolidated aquifers practically in all the basins. Generally, it flows from the catchment boundaries to the axis of the valleys and then follows the general trend of surface drainage. Groundwater in Balochistan, generally, is found trapped in the alluvial fans and piedmont plains. UNDP/WAPDA evaluated the available groundwater potential of basins during 1976-80. TABLE-4 gives the results of this study.
Table 4: GROUNDWATER POTENTIAL IN BALOCHISTAN S.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Hydrogeological Basin Zhob River Basin Nari River Basin Kachhi Plain Pishin Lora Basin Mula River Basin Gaj River Basin Porali River Basin Hingol River Basin Hamun-e-Lora Basin Dashat River Basin Rakhshan River Basin Hamun-e-Mashkhel Basin Other Areas Total Groundwater Potential (Cusec) 125 120 95 145 26 38 155 168 28 51 27 68 140 1,186

Source: Groundwater Resources of Balochistan Province, Pakistan WAPDA June 1993.

In order to re-assess the available groundwater potential of Pishin, Nari, Zhob, Porali, Hamun-e-Lora and Kachhi Plain basins, a study was sponsored by Asian Development Bank and undertaken by Halcrow in 1996. The study revealed that the availability of groundwater in Pishin Lora, Nari and Zhob basins is constrained and mining of groundwater resources is taking place from aquifer storage in Quetta, Mastung, Mangochar, Pishin, Loralai and Qila Saifullah sub basins. TABLE-5 shows the water balance in these sub basins.

Table 5: GROUNDWATER BALANCE IN SELECTED BASINS OF BALOCHISTAN Basin Sub Basin Recharge (cusec) 6 Extractions (cusec) Overdrawn out of storage (cusec)

Pishin Lora Pishin-Lora Pishin-Lora Pishin-Lora Nari Zhob

Quetta-North Mastung Mangochar Pishin Loralai Qilla Saifullah -West

38.4 21.8 10.0 28.5 63.2 41.3

67.2 31.7 24.7 84.0 74.8 59.4

28.8 9.8 14.7 55.5 11.6 80.1

Source: Balochistan Groundwater Reassessment ADB/Halcrow, 1996.

It the need of the hour to re-address the groundwater potential of Balochistan and flash floods, which are assumed as 12 million acre feet of water per annum in Balochistan is wasted without being put into any beneficial use because of lack of storage dams and flood dispersal structures. Hardly 2.7 MAF of water is utilized by traditional Ganda Jat system and flood diversion/dispersal structures and the rest goes wasted. By harnessing the same water through constructing delay action dams / storage dams in different parts of Balochistan, groundwater resources can be replenished and the serious situation can be averted along with direct irrigation by flood water.

Table 1: EFFECT OF DROUGHT ON HUMAN POPULATION

Division Name Kalat Zhob Naseerabad Makran Quetta Sibi Total

Total Population 1,236,802 997,165 634,758 816,227 1,728,708 489,708 5,903,368

Affected Population 378,964 280,000 161,507 544,792 375,015 171,256 1,911,534

Percentage 31% 28% 25% 66% 21% 35% 32%

Source: Drought in Balochistan data compile by Drought Relief Commissioner

Table 2: EFFECT OF DROUGHT ON LIVESTOCK POPULATION

Division Name Kalat Zhob Naseerabad Makran Quetta Sibi Total

Total Heads of Animals 8,721,472 7,219,087 2,107,057 1,074,036 1,377,916 4,086,965 26,042,336

Affected Population Numbers 1,048,311 4,000,000 166,917 577,423 751,217 1,373,098 7,916,966 Percentage 12% 55% 8% 54% 54% 34% 30%

MORTALITY

Numbers 355,229 710,000 ----125,281 349,923 136,870 1,677,303

Percentage

4% 10% ----11.5% 25% 3.5% 65%

Source: Drought in Balochistan data compile by Drought Relief Commissioner

Table 3: EFFECT OF DROUGHT ON CROP PRODUCTION

Division Name Kalat Zhob Naseerabad Makran Quetta Sibi Total

CROPS AFFECTED (Acres) 34,267.50 Wheat,

Percentage

1,339,813.00 Wheat, Masoon, Mong, Maash, Moth etc. 281,275.00 Wheat, Pulses, Jawar, Oil Seads etc. 23,197.50 132,758.00 161,858.00 Wheat, Jawar, Bajra, Fruits etc. 1,973,169.00 Date, Wheat, Rice, Barley, Vegetables, Fodder etc.

Source: Drought in Balochistan data compile by Drought Relief Commissioner

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Table 4: CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMALS FOR QUETTA

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

Temp. (oF) Max. 51 56 65 76 87 94 96 94 88 77 65 56 Min. 27 30 38 45 51 58 66 62 50 38 29 25

Mean Evaporation (mm) 79 98 166 231 310 319 315 279 230 175 111 75 2388

Aver. Wind Velocity (Knots) 4.9 5.8 6.2 5.5 5.9 5.9 6.5 5.7 4.6 4.0 3.5 3.6

Precipitation

Air Humidity (%) 1700 hrs 55 48 45 37 31 29 32 36 30 29 36 50

(mm) 0800 hrs 49 82 50 74 44 72 25 61 10 48 04 44 12 56 08 61 01 52 03 51 07 66 01 82 214

Source: Soil Survey of Pakistan

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Table-5: CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMALS FOR LORALAI

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

Temp. (oC) Max. 13 16 21 27 32 35 34 33 32 23 22 16 Min. -01 01 06 11 16 19 21 19 15 09 04 00

Mean Evaporation (mm) 81 104 170 223 289 301 271 247 216 170 118 82 2272

Aver. Wind Velocity (Knots) 3.6 3.5 4.4 3.8 4.5 3.9 3.3 3.0 3.0 3.4 3.4 3.3

Precipitation

Air Humidity (%) 1700 hrs 41 33 30 24 22 23 37 39 27 22 25 36

(mm) 0800 hrs 26 70 20 63 40 58 23 48 20 39 09 39 34 62 40 52 05 44 03 35 07 41 17 59 244

Source: Soil Survey of Pakistan

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Table 6: CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMALS FOR CHAMAN

Temp. (oF) Max. 53 59 68 80 91 98 101 98 92 80 69 59 Min. 35 40 47 57 66 72 77 74 65 54 44 38 Mean Evaporation (mm) 83 111 176 242 313 331 311 283 233 180 122 83 2468 Aver. Wind Velocity (Knots) 4.1 4.8 5.3 5.2 5.3 5.3 4.7 4.5 4.1 3.4 4.1 3.6 Precipitation Air Humidity (%) 1700 hrs 50 42 36 31 24 22 25 22 23 23 28 42

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

(mm) 0800 hrs 57 67 54 57 46 53 22 44 06 35 01 34 04 37 04 35 00.5 32 03 36 09 43 34 57 240.5

Source: Soil Survey of Pakistan

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Table 7: CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMALS FOR KALAT

Average monthly temp (oC) 3.2 3.6 10.2 13.7 18.4 23.5 25.5 23.8 19.6 13.7 7.8 5.2 Mean Evaporation (mm) 75 100 160 215 273 288 270 249 214 165 110 79 2198 Aver. Wind Velocity (Knots) 4.9 5.8 6.2 5.5 5.9 5.9 6.5 5.7 4.6 4.0 3.5 3.6 Precipitation (mm) 49 37 32 12 07 03 24 18 03 00.2 03 17 205.2 Relative humidity (%) 60 62 54 46 40 43 51 50 41 38 34 64

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

Source: Soil Survey of Pakistan

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Table 8: CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMALS FOR LASBELA

Temp. (oC) Max. 26 29 33 39 42 42 39 38 38 38 34 29 Min. 08 10 15 19 24 27 27 26 24 19 13 11 Mean Evaporation (mm) 108 134 201 253 311 312 278 262 243 200 138 106 2546 Aver. Wind Velocity (Knots) 1.8 2.5 3.2 3.4 3.6 4.5 4.2 3.9 4.0 2.5 1.7 1.5 Precipitation Air Humidity (%) 1700 hrs 45 42 37 35 42 44 52 56 52 42 41 45

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

(mm) 0800 hrs 08 69 15 69 16 65 09 65 16 73 12 72 61 78 32 81 14 81 03 65 01 55 09 62 196

Source: Soil Survey of Pakistan

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Table No: 5 EFFECT

OF DROUGHT ON KAREZES

TOTAL NO ESTIMATED KAREZES 800

TOTAL NO OF DRIED KAREZES 175

Source: IUCN Balochistan Conservation Strategy Background 2000

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Table 6: YEARWISE DRILLING OF TUBEWELLS BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Period 1950-60 1961-65 1966-70 1971-75 1976-80 1981-85 1986-90 1991-95 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-till date Total
Source:

I&P Deptt. 75 80 00 81 89 147 174 56 33 13 39 41 104 140 187 183 1442

BDA
64 45 68 32 24 42 275

PHE Deptt. 157 221 62 45 45 41 43 42 38 33 727

WAPDA 29 143 411 272 446 375 91 1,767

Tube wells drilled under DIMRC 489 489

Total 75 80 29 224 500 483 822 720 218 82 126 82 147 182 225 705 4700

Tube well Database, September 2004, WRPD&M Directorate, I&P, Government of Balochistan.

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Table No: 7 TOTAL

NOS OF OPERATIONAL WATERING POINTS ESTIMATED BY IUCN

TOTAL NOS OF WATERING POINTS 24000

TOTAL NOS OF OPERATIONAL T/WELLS 21000

TOTAL NOS OF OPERATIONAL DUG WELLS 3000

Source: IUCN Balochistan Conservation Strategy Background 2000

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