Watershed Governance & Management in Pakistan - 5: Post #6

Potential Watershed Governance & Management Activities

Pakistan has to consider watershed management as a serious issue for the sustainable benefits of irrigation and power generation, environment, biodiversity and to increase the incomes of users of the watersheds like shepherds, livestock and dairy owners, etc. Range land management is an important function of watershed governance and management. By promoting low cost fencing all federal and provincial rangelands, where it is practical and feasible, into paddocks to ensure a nutritious and plentiful but controlled grazing practice / facility for sheep, goats, livestock and dairy animals on nominal charge basis. 

At initial stage, relevant entities identified for governance and management of watersheds can plan to appraise the current situation of institutional arrangements for watershed management, catchment areas characteristics, current watershed use practices, and status of siltation of dams. 

At the next stage, relevant entities should prepare a plan together with required budgetary outlays for watershed management including both nonstructural and structural measures covering priority small, medium, and large dams. The plan will also include (i) watershed governance  arrangements at grass-root levels through local government system with formal government support in the form of policy, legislation, regulations, monitoring, technical assistance, research and training facilities along with needed backup support for enforcement and surveillance by the local representative entities, (ii) measures to foster coordination with India and Afghanistan to implement similar and confidence building measures in Indian-controlled areas and the Kabil River Basin in Afghanistan , (iii) instituting/upgrading arrangements for better river and stream gauging particularly including silt load measurements and periodic surveys of reservoirs to monitor siltation, and (iv) establishment of technical centers at suitable and representative locations within selected watershed commands to develop applied extension courses for delivery to watershed users: determining stocking rates, improving animal genetics by selection of breeding stock, forage plant characteristics, low cost terracing, water harvesting for forage plants, etc.

.