ISLAMABAD: A project is being implemented to enhance the potential of groundwater through artificial groundwater recharge techniques in Balochistan.Under the project, costing Rs. 38.68 million, groundwater resources of Zhob River Basin (Qila Saifullah District) are being assessed, managed and enhanced on sustainable bases which is one of the most groundwater depleted area. Official sources Sunday said Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) is executing the project under which innovative low cost groundwater recharge techniques have been introduced besides improving efficiency of already existing recharge activities.

The sources said the specific objectives of the project are assessment of existing status of groundwater resources,  development and implementation of plan for sustainable management of groundwater resources through artificial groundwater recharge techniques and rainwater harvesting, and impact assessment and dissemination of efficient recharge techniques for wide scale adaptation to manage groundwater potential in water scarce areas.

Talking about impact of the project, the sources said the government of Balochistan previously constructed over 165 delay action dams with more than Rs. 200 million for recharging groundwater. However, the efficiency of these dams has been very low due to various technical and management implications.

The groundwater recharge techniques previously introduced by PCRWR under are low cost and very effective in recharging groundwater.

Similarly, if these techniques are applied in other river basins the groundwater resources of Balochistan would be increased many folds. All these activities would contribute in economic uplift of the province.

It merits mentioned here that Balochistan falls under arid climatic condition where rainfall is low and erratic. Most of the rivers and streams are non-perennial. The only dependable source of water supply is groundwater. Due to continuous increase in population and consequential growth in water demand for various uses have resulted tremendous increase in installation of tubewells, and groundwater utilization has increased manifolds in Balochistan.

This has adversely affected the groundwater potential in various areas with drop in water table. Different agencies undertook activities in the province to enhance the potential of groundwater by artificial groundwater recharge techniques. The success of those activities however has been limited due to various technical and management problems and these activities were mainly concentrated in Quetta district.