Indus River Pakistan It is the largest river in Pakistan and plays a key role in the economy of Pakistan for many reasons including agricultural irrigation, power generation, fishing and transportation.
This river irrigates thousands of acres of surrounding lands as it passes through the southern districts of Punjab province. But its erosion in some areas is threatening crops and populations these days.
District Leah Hundreds of acres of crops have been washed away by the river due to erosion near the village of Rakhawan in Tehsil Karolal Aisan.
Similarly, river erosion continues in the low-lying area of Paharpur near Leh.
Many houses have collapsed due to river erosion and many settlements are in danger, residents of hundreds of houses are worried.
According to the locals, the river has been changing direction at this point for the past several years due to which the erosion of the land is increasing.
After some time, the crops and many houses are lost to the river. But instead of coming up with a permanent solution, the government institutions do temporary work.
According to the officials of the Inhar Department, steps are being taken temporarily to save the villages of Leh on the banks of the Indus River which are being affected by erosion.
The government has been made PC one to construct a permanent dam.
The spokesperson of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) says that letters have been written to the administration of the areas of Punjab River and Indus River where erosion complaints have been received for safety measures.
Damages from river erosion
Speaking to Independent Urdu, Mohammad Nadeem, a resident of Kalro, village of Mouza Paharpur, said that ‘river erosion starts here after a few years, by which crops and houses are washed away by the river. Even these days many houses have collapsed due to river erosion and crops have been destroyed. But no permanent solution is being done by the government.
He said that ‘when the river is harvested, fear spreads in the settlements along the river. With hard work, they make rough houses by piecing pies together. But temporary supers run out of water within a few years, then the river’s rapids sweep into crops and communities, wreaking havoc. The mosque of our village has also been swept away by the river and dozens of houses have become part of the river.
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
Spokesperson of DC Leah, Nisar Ahmed, while talking to Independent Urdu, said that ‘steps have been directed to save the lands and settlements affected by erosion along the Indus River. In this regard, an on-the-spot review has also been done.
The main reason for this is that people build houses when the water in the river is low. Cultivation of crops and expansion of population to the river bed causes damage. People are also warned not to build residences or grow crops inside the river.
Causes of erosion and preventive measures
Speaking to Independent Urdu, the local SDO of Anhar Department, Zubair Ahmad, said that ‘Indus River is a big river in which the water pressure keeps increasing due to rains and melting of snow in the upper areas. If the water gets too high, it also causes flooding. Therefore, the work of strengthening the dam on the banks of this river continues.
But where there is a bend in the river, the water hits the banks under intense pressure and erosion occurs, which destroys the houses and crops here. No permanent embankment could be made in this regard because a strong embankment is needed to stop the water.’
He said that ‘We have made a PC one for him and sent it to the government. Let’s see when the work starts on it. However, as a precautionary measure, we immediately make temporary super soil where erosion occurs. which can only hold water for some time.’
Spokesperson PDMA Chaudhry Mazhar Hussain while talking to Independent Urdu said that ‘mostly during summer days there is erosion at many places in river Indus and Chenab where the river bends. In those days, reports were also received from Jhang and now it is known from Leh that erosion is going on there. So we have written letters to the local administrations of the affected areas to work with the Inhar department to form an immediate super.’
According to him, ‘Erosion in rivers is happening more and more often, for which there is a dire need to strengthen the dams so that not only the erosion but also the dam breaking when the water is high can be repaired. A strategy is being prepared in this regard, it is hoped that the work on it will start soon.
Indus River is the longest river in South Asia. Its length is more or less 3200 km. Its total drainage area is four and a half lakh square miles or 1.165 thousand square kilometers. Securing the embankments and banks of such a large river is also no less than a challenge for the administration.
#Erosion #Indus #River #threatens #population #land #Leh
2024-08-20 05:38:34
