Floods

The Indus and its tributaries swell and almost every year overflow their banks.

Floods in every 7 to 8 years are severe floods.

Serious floods occurred in 1955,1973 and 1978.

Even in the 80s and 90s it was devastating.

In 1955 a floods inundated 220 villages , 400 ppl and 70000 cattle lost their lives.
The total damage caused by floods amounted to Rs 83 million.

In 1973, Floods inundated 3.6 million hectares, killed 1600 persons and
demolished three million homes.

Reasons
Natural causes:

Melting of snow during summer.

Heavy monsoon rainfall

Human Causes

Cutting of trees on the foothills increases surface run-off.

Failure to strengthen or heighten embankments alongside rivers.

Dam failure to store extra water due to less capacity

Preventative and curative Measures

Planting trees on the foothills to check the flow of running water.

Enlarging the river channel so that it can hold more water.

Building embankments on either side of the channel to prevent the spread of
flood water.

Building extra channels to take flood waters away from towns.

Building reservoirs on the river to store water and control peak discharge.

Preventing building in areas where flooding is most likely.

Publicizing flood warnings through radio , tv and newspaper.

Evacuation of flooded areas and providing necessary facilities for rehabilitation.

Benefits of Floods
Floods return nutrients to the land and contribute to the health of wet lands as in
the Indus Delta.

Floods distribute rich sediments , a layer of alluvium which increases the fertility
of the land.

The nutrient rich Indus Delta has in creased the production of fish in the Arabian
sea.

The reproduction , breeding and multiplication of freshwater fish and prawn

species is finely tuned and adjusted to the monsoon flooding.

Floods are also recharged ground water supplies.

Drought
Lack of rainfall can cause a severe water shortages , which can destroy
crops .

In the world’s poor countries drought brings famine ,diseases and

death on a massive scale.
 Types of drought
Permanent drought

It exists when crop cultivation is not possible without irrigation e.g. Thal,
cholistan, Chagai (western Balochistan).

Seasonal Drought

It occurs in areas with well-defined rainy and dry seasons. E.g Potwar Plateau and
southern Punjab.

Invisible Drought

It is the result of a water deficiency that reduces crops yields but is not severe
enough to destroy them.

Unpredictable Drought

It is the result of abnormally low rainfall and occurs in areas which have humid
climates.

Causes of Drought in Pakistan

Natural factors

Unreliability of monsoon winds may lead to seasonal droughts in Punjab and

Sindh

The dry and hot winds can reduce the moisture contents of sandy soil by lowering
the level of humidity in the air.

Global climate is constantly changing leading to changes in Pakistan’s climate.

 Human Factors

Deforestation on the foothills of the mountains increases soil erosion

and reduces rainfall.

Mismanagement of water resources through seepage of unlined canals.

The disputed and unfair distribution of water between the provinces

may lead to a drought situation in the province which is deprived f its
fair share of water.

Overgrazing of land, leading to soil erosion thus reduces soil fertility.

Global warming leading to climate changes.

Effects of Drought on the Physical

Environment
Desertification

(The process of turning the land into a desert)

Exposed soil leading to soil erosion, dust storms, extension of desert areas, rise in
temperature, loss of vegetation and extinction of species.

Drying up of rivers, lakes and streams

Harm to fisheries and other acquatic life,growth of algae in shallow water bodies,
unsafe drinking water.

Drop in water table

Less water available to plants and humans from ground water sources.
 Effects of Drought on Human environment.
POPULATION: Widespread famine leading to starvation.

Migration from drought affected areas.

Malnutrition, health problems.

Break-up of rural social setup.

Loss of lives

Nomadic lifestyle.

ECONOMIC EFFECTS: Crop failure, death of livestock, shortage of raw materials

for Industries, Reduced Exports and Increase Imports, Devastation of the
economy.

Drought Management
WATER STORAGE SCHEMES

Water can be stores in reservoirs of dams and traditional tanks irrigation purpose.
This helps to limit the losses caused by seasonal drought in the affected areas.

THE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY

Desalination of sea water.

Reclaiming waste water and turning into clean water.

Using drought resistant variety of crops.

The lining of canals

To avoid the wastage of water farmers should cement the canals so that the
water does not seep into the ground causing water logging and salinity.
 Planning and Management of water Resources

Govt should give high priority in allocation of water for the needs of people and
for agricultural and industrial uses.

Conservation of water to avoid shortage.