Report prepared by Brigadier General Saqib and
sent to Commissionar and District
Coordination Officer in Jul 2010 through CMLC office
1. Introduction.
The district of Swat is one of the most beautiful regions of the Khyber
Pakhtoon Khawa Province of Pakistan. The scenic beauty, lofty mountains,
gorgeous rivers attract a large no of tourists from all over the world. River
Swat holds significance for economy, health and habitat for the region as well
as for the down country. Presently, Pak Army with the assistance of civil
administration is undertaking no of rehabilitation and developmental project in
order to achieve deep rooted and long lasting developmental effects in order to
win the hearts and minds of people of Swat. While selecting the areas of focus,
it was ensured that not only a common man but the community in general of Swat
should be benefitted. A large no of schools, mosques, communication
Infrastructure, health facilities, solar lights, safe drinking water etc have
been construction / renovated.
2.
A highly imp aspect requiring attention at this stage is pollution of river
Swat which has always been a problem due to ineffective government control and
corruption. Due to increase population and lack of sewerage system and
awareness in Swat, the problem has compounded to a great extent. All sorts of
waste including human, factories, animals etc all along the length of river Swat
finds its way into river thus polluting the river intensely. Pollution con is a
universal problem requiring dedicated efforts. Due to the presence /
involvement of Army in Swat regional affairs, collaborated efforts can be
launched in order to effectively deal with the menace.
3. Aim.
To highlight the causes of pollution of river Swat with a view to recommend
measures to eliminate its pollution.
4. Sequence.
The paper will encompass following sequence:-
a.
Gen Information on River Swat
b.
Causes of Pollution
c.
Efforts carried out in recent history
d.
Recommendations
5. General
Information on River Swat. The river with
its tributaries forms the drainage basin for the Swat valley. It commences at
Kalam with the confluence of Ushu and Utror Rivers and flows for about 160 km across the
valley upto Chakdara. The total length of the River is 250 km from Kalam to
River Kabul near Charsadda. Many large and small tributaries join the
river along its course River Swat flows with a higher speed in a narrow gorge
with an average width of 35-40 m, from Kalam to Baghderai. Downstream the river
spreads upto 400 m. It drains about 14,000 square kms area. The drain area
comprises rugged mountain varying in heights from 600 m to more than 6,000 m
with a steady gen rise from south to north. Two main canals, Upper Swat and
Lower Swat canal have been dug out during the last century for irrigation of
Peshawar valley plains south of Malakand pass and for power generation at Jaban
and Dargai. No of cities, towns and villages mostly located closer to the banks
pollute the river Swat with solid and liquid waste. In Jul 2010 Samples
from river Swat, waste of villages and nullahs were tested just before floods
2010 and the results are appended at annexure A.
6. Causes
of Pollution.
There are no of contributing factors polluting the river Swat. Few out of these
are as under:-
a. Non
Available of Sanitation Plans / Schemes.
The solid and liquid waste of all the cities, towns and villages are put into
river Swat due to non-availability of proper sanitation / sewerage schemes.
Mingora city having approximate population of 0.5 million have no sewerage sys
and almost 75 % of solid waste of the city is also put into the river.
Similarly, all Tehsil Municipal Authorities of Swat do not have any sanitation
scheme.
b. Commercial
Waste of Hotels / Industries / Workshops.
There are approximately 500 hotels in Kalam and Swat and no of industries,
which do not have any sanitation scheme or waste treatment plan. Most of the
hotels throw away their waste directly into river. Moreover, chemical waste of
industries is also put into river without any treatment thus polluting the
river to a great extent. A large number of auto workshop and service stations
have been constructed on its banks in the near past. Human waste and waste from
these workshops and svc stations render the water very dirty and black in color.
There is no sys of collection for solid waste and its proper disposal,
resulting in piles of waste all over the city and throughout the streams and
canal.
c. Lack
of Awareness.
The communities lack collective thinking about environmental problems and have
developed this habit of putting the responsibility on the municipality. Due to
lack of awareness and non-adherence to rules and regulations, the Government
and people are not taking any step to prevent pollution of river Swat.
d. Insufficient
Tree Plantation. Swat
valley had been famous for its greenery. Illegal cutting of trees and
insufficient tree plantation has resulted into enhancement of Total Dissolved
Solvents (TDS) in drainage water.
e. Lack
of Planning by Government Depts.
Government departments are oblivious to the problem despite availability of
“NWFP (KPK) Rivers Protection Act 2002”. Mingora city has only 3 trucks and 4
tractors to transport the solid waste of 0.5 million population. Whereas, there
is no sewerage sys available in the city thus the entire
liquid waste and 75% of solid waste is thrown away
into river Swat.
7. Efforts
Carried Out in Recent History.
NGOs and government departments have initiated various steps in the recent
history to address the problems; however, these could not achieve their desired
results. Few are as under:-
a. Pollution
Study (1999). Pollution survey of River Swat
was periodically carried out to check the physical, chemical and biological
characteristics and the intensity and sources of pollution in the River, which
indicated fairly high level of pollution, specially contributed by Jambil
stream of Mingora. The details of the study are appended at para 1 of Annexure
B.
b. Ecological
Survey (2000).
The ecological survey of the River identified uncontrolled expansion of
villages and use of pesticides for agriculture, thereby threatening the
important animal and plant species in the river in specific and the valley in
gen.
c. Hotel
Information Survey.
The uncontrolled mushroom hotel growth in violation of the Rivers Protection
Act 2002 in the tourist spots and in the city of Mingora had a negative impact on River Swat. The survey
indicated that about 500 hotels in Swat and Kalam gen ignore basic sanitation
rules by not having septic tanks and soakage pits and improper management for
solid waste disposal. The liquid waste is directly opened to the nearby nullah
or the river.
d. Mingora
Solid and Liquid Waste Survey.
The status of direct disposal to the nearby water channels in Mingora city was
assessed. It indicated that most buildings open their toilets directly to the
streams ultimately falling into river.
e. Sanitation
Master Plan. The population of Mingora
increased from 38499 in 1972 to approximately over 0.5 million in 2010 thus
necessitating development of a master plan for disposal of liquid and solid
waste to check the environmental hazard for the city dwellers and people down
stream in the villages. Unfortunately, that plan could not be implemented yet.
Details of plan are at para 2 of Annexure B.
f. River
Swat Protection Cell (RSPC). RSPC
was established in 1997 and composed of relevant government departments
association, CBOs and press with the then Commissioner Malakand Division in the
Chair and Environmental Protection Society EPS as the
Coordinator. In 1997, a concept paper was submitted to UNDP Pakistan aiming at
initiating a project to make the Cell more effective and to address the
identified issues. The River Swat Conservation Project started in 1998. The
activities undertaken by the project team including awareness, social mob,
scientific data collection and developing coordination among the stakeholders.
In addition to the CBOs, umbrella org were formed at Tehsil level for
collective actions. The cell was only successful in identifying most
of the threats to the River.
g. NWFP
(Now KPK) Rivers Protection Act 2002.
Due to the efforts of EPS and RSPC, the Act was promulgated on 19 Jan
2002. The act was extended to the whole of NWFP (KPK) including Swat. If
properly implemented, the Act will certainly be helpful in long term protection
of the rivers of the province including River Swat, for which it was drafted in
first place. Copy of the Act is attached as Annexure C.
h. Sanitation
Scheme – Village Chalyar. Sanitation scheme for village
Chalyar was designed in close consultation with community members of the
village on the basis of component share. The scheme was completed, however, its
effectiveness needs to be assessed.
i. Land
Use Planning and Zoning (LUPZ).
The ex for Land use planning for proper management of resources in the area to
guide its future growth in planned and orderly manner with the provision of all
necessary facilities was carried out but could not be effectively implemented
due to pol and bureaucratic influences. Details are appended at para 6 of
Annexure B.
8. Recommendations.
The following recommendations are offered for conservation of River Swat:-
a. Pollution
Control. Pollution of the
river starting right from Kalam that intensifies downstream not only affects
the cleanliness of the river water and its biodiversity but also the social and
economic well being of the people of the valley. Following is recommended:-
(1) Manage the solid and liquid waste produced in Mingora, on priority, through a
plan for sanitation scheme that already exists.
(2) Properly manage the refuse disposal in all the villages particularly near the
watercourses.
(3) Raise awareness of
communities about controlled application of fertilizers and pesticides.
(4) Hotels should be asked to
properly dispose their waste as per the rules.
(5) Tourists should be
educated to avoid polluting the area through sign boards and pamphlets.
b. Biodiversity
Conservation.
Following is recommended to improve the conservation of biodiversity of River
Swat:-
(1)
Age distribution of the economically important fish species is imperative for
conservation of the fish fauna. Data should be collected in this regard at
appropriate intervals.
(2)
Numerical data about the different species in the river and its tributaries
need to be carried out at intervals.
(3)
Species diversity of plants and animals in River Swat and its tributaries and
species dependent on them should be studied in detail to produce a base-line
scientific data.
c. Tree Plantation.
Large scale Afforestation with the active participation of the communities
around the watersheds to decrease Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total
Suspended Solids (TSS) to protect the habitats and certain important animal
species should be undertaken.
d. Social
Mob and Awareness Raising Training Program.
Social mobilization to direct the energies of Communities Based Org to
contribute to better sanitation schemes at individual, village, towns and city
level should be launched. Communities should be trained in natural resource
management to enhance their capacity for conservation of nature.
e. Population
Growth. The
uncontrolled population growth is a serious threat to environment in gen and
River Swat in particular. The following points need to be addressed:-
(1)
Awareness program for Family Planning and health education should be started at
the grass roots level with the involvement of activists from CBOs, religious
leaders and the local government system.
(2)
Family Planning facilities should be made easily available.
f. Gender
Development.
Women can play an equal and imp role in development and conservation but this
has never been tapped adequately because of peculiar social system. This
difficult issue should be taken with determination but carefulness. Activities
that are socially acceptable should be started with them by socially acceptable
people preferably through the female of the same area. In this way, they can be
made aware of environmental issues like that of River Swat and can similarly be
involved effectively in all developmental and conservation processes.
g. Amendments
in Syllabus.
A case may
be forwarded to Education Department of KPK to include the subjects of
Sanitation and Pollution con as a part of social studies starting at middle
level. At high school level, models of sanitation schemes may also be included
to increase awareness and facilitate implementation of environment control
measures.
h. Publication
of a Booklet on Pollution Control.
An educative booklet comprising doable and sustainable steps by individuals and
small communities may be published on emergency basis for middle and high
schools and including in the syllabus.
i. Land
Use Planning and Zoning (LUPZ).
The LUPZ initiated by EPS should be supported by
the Government and donor agencies so that the whole of the valley is zoned
and planned. Existing laws / rules should be implemented.
j. Community
Based Septic Tanks.
Community based septic tanks should be developed at village level as well on
the lines of village Chalyar in order to minimize the waste being thrown into
river Swat.
k. Role
of Army.
Army at this stage can assist the civ departments in following ways:-
(1) Formation
of Environment Committee.
A committee may be established at Mingora comprising Civil Military Liaison
Cell to include representatives of sanitation department, NGOs, hotel
associations, in order to expedite the process of pollution control.
(2) Community
Awareness Programs. Presence of
Army in the entire valley can ensure speedy assistance to the
government departments /education institutions to educate and mobilize the
people about imp of pollution control in a month time.
(3) Binding
on Commercial Entities to Develop Sanitation Schemes. Army can
assist government departments in coordinating and implementing sanitation
schemes by commercial entities and villages making them responsible and
accountable for their waste mgmt. US AID is currently providing a post flood
relief package ranging between USD $15000-25000. These hotels can be asked to
implement the sanitation schemes as per rules.
9. Conclusion.
Pollution to environment and national assets like river Swat is a great
challenge and needs collective efforts at all levels to address the issue. Orientation
and awareness about rules and regulations do not solve the problem but
accountability for violation of such rules and regulations will ensure the
implementation of such rules and regulations.
Annexure A
TMA Detail Water
Quality Monitoring Report
18 Jul 2010
|
Water Source
|
District
|
UC/Villages
|
Population served
|
Date
|
Ph (6.5-8.5)
|
Turbidity (>5ntu)
|
Coliform (0/100ml)
|
Residual chlorine (0.2-0.5ppm)
|
Remarks
|
|
SwatRiver
|
Swat
|
17/7/2010
|
6.75
|
>40
|
0
|
Much beyond limits
|
|||
|
“
|
Swat
|
17/7/2010
|
6.75
|
>40
|
0
|
Much beyond limits
|
|||
|
Garoh village Wastage Drain
|
Swat
|
17/7/2010
|
6.78
|
>400
|
Countless
|
Totally dangerous
|
|||
|
“
|
Swat
|
17/7/2010
|
6.78
|
>400
|
Countless
|
Totally dangerous
|
|||
|
Spring close to River
|
Swat
|
17/7/2010
|
7.08
|
>5
|
0
|
Touching upper limits
|
|||
|
“
|
Swat
|
17/7/2010
|
7.08
|
>5
|
0
|
||||
|
Any special comments or
suggestion for possible improvement of the water quality
|
|||||||||
Annexure B
DETAILS OF STUDIES /
SURVEYs CARRIED OUT IN RECENT HISTORY
1. Pollution
Survey (1999). The pH, alkalinity, conductivity and
hardness of water of the river and its tributaries were within the normal range
of pot ability. Total solid content of the main river proved within the normal
range while it was generally high in the tributaries. Similarly the total
suspended solids generally crossed the normal range of pot ability in
tributaries. Dissolved oxygen, which determines the health and self-purifying
capacity of water body, was lowest in Jambil stream. Biological oxygen demand
remained under the normal limits downstream upto Mingora, but crosses the limit
as soon as the Jambil stream enters the River at Panjigram, after traversing
Mingora. The situation becomes better downstream. In River Swat and its
tributaries, chemical oxygen was found higher than the normal acceptable
limits. Ammonia determines the quantity of organic pollutants in water. Its
concentration was under the acceptable range till Mingora, until the
municipality waste is discharged into it at Panjigram through Jambil Stream where
the ammonia level suddenly rises crossing the acceptable limit of 2.00 mg/l.
The nitrite content in all the samples except that collected from Jambil stream
(12.09 mg/l) proved within the normal range of pot ability. Concentration of
chlorides and phosphates were lower, whereas the sulphide contents in all the
samples were higher than the WHO standards. Escherichia coli (E.Coli) counts
which directly determines the fecal contamination of water, was found to be at
the level of intermediate risk up and down stream Kalam while rest of the
sampling areas of River Swat and its tributaries showed a fecal contamination.
E.Coli count was very high in Jambil stream indicating a very high risk level.
2. Sanitation
Master Plan. The proposed Master Plan for
Mingora city was developed for 25 years design period (1998 to 2023). The
proposed sewer lines within the city are divided into the following four
categories:-
a. Tertiary sewer line.
b. Sub-main sewer line.
c. Main sewer line.
d. Trunk sewer and
sedimentation tank.
3.
The tertiary sewer lines will be laid within the streets, collecting toilet
wastes through manholes. At present, 3132207 feet drain having 572 branches is
required to collect waste water. The capacity of the sewer needs to be 16215
households for projected 25 years period. The diameter of the sewer line and
the manholes are designed to be 6 in and 3 feet, respectively. Two or more
tertiary sewer lines combine to form sub-main sewer. In addition to the flow
received from tertiary sewer, 7475 more household’s waste will open into it in the
design period of twenty-five years. The sub-main sewer lines have a total
length of 209498 feet comprising 424 branches with a total design capacity of
23690 houses. There are 128 main sewers out of which 52 collect waste water
only from houses while the remaining 76 sewers receive the sub-main and
tertiary sewers as well. Their capacity varies from 3 to 2982 houses. The
sewers are designed to serve 28464 houses. As the city’s housing stock is
predicted to increase to 34588 units in 25 years, the un-served units turns out
to be 6124. These will be built in the open areas of the city where no sewer
line exists at this stage. This load has, however, including in the trunk sewer
designed capacity. The main sewers are to be opened in to the trunk either through
manhole or grit chamber depending upon the diameter of the trunk and main
sewer. The details are as under:-
|
Diameter
(Inch)
|
No of Branches
|
Length (Ft)
|
Load (Houses)
|
No of Manholes
|
|
6
|
95
|
48431
|
3399
|
1676
|
|
9
|
18
|
33763
|
5963
|
778
|
|
12
|
9
|
35909
|
7844
|
771
|
|
18
|
5
|
22658
|
8276
|
457
|
|
24
|
1
|
3120
|
2982
|
63
|
|
Total
|
128
|
143881
|
28464
|
3745
|
4.
Being a cup shaped city, all the main sewers of Mingora open into the streams.
To prevent the flow of sewage into the stream, trunk sewer is proposed along
both sides of the streams, commencing from Shagai in the south and Panr in the
east till Qamber in the west, opening into the proposed treatment plant. The
diameter of sewer ranges from 9 inches to 42 inches having a total capacity of
34053 houses for the design period of 25 years. To minimize the cost, diameter
of the sewer has been designed on need basis. For this purpose the trunk sewer
has been divided into five sections, two along both sides of Marghazar stream,
one each to the right and left of Jambil and Mingora streams. The trunk sewer
as proposed along the right side of Jambil and Mingora stream serves more than
half of the city and its diameter varies from 12 to 42 inches. There are grit
chambers at appropriate points along the trunks. A sewer line has also been
proposed along the Gaga canal. As this sewer cannot open to the treatment plant,
the sewage will be treated separately. Keeping in
view the socio-economic conditions of the people of the area, oxidation ponds
have been proposed to be provided. There will be three chambers of diff depths
with a capacity of 35,000 housing units waste for fifteen days.
5.
At local level, the master plan was presented to the District Nazim and Tehsil
Nazim, while at provincial level it was presented to the Minister for Water and
power and heads and officers of different departments. The aim was to present
this plan to the relevant government department for consideration after further
opinion from experts and consultation with stakeholders.
6. Land
Use Planning and Zoning (LUPZ).
The exercise including selection of landmass in the target area, identified its
various uses and allocation of areas for specific uses including potential
sites for tourist attractions, demarcation of the boundaries of the River and
its prevention from encroachments and pollution. Furthermore, water sup design
for existing built up area with the provision for future demand, detailed
implementation measure for collective treatment and safe disposal of waste
water and solid waste management system for the area were also worked out. The
plan also including the provision of rules and regulations to prevent direct
release of waste water into the River and regulate building and development in
the target area. The ex of LUPZ was carried out in a demarcated area of Kalam.
The activity was carried out with the cooperation of the Technical Unit of EPS,
community activists, land owners, MDDA and Hotel Association. The following
tasks were undertaken:-
a. Topographic survey sheets / plan at scale 1000 of the target area.
b. Marking location for hotels, picnic spots, walk ways, restaurant, pub car
parks, Jogging and hiking track, recreational facilities, tourist flats
and residential areas for local population.
c. Recommendations for preventive measures for erosion of river banks.
d. Options for
collection and disposal of the solid waste within the target area.
e. Draft legislation for
approval by the competent Government body.
f. Detailed engineering designs, architectural drawings and cost estimates along
with draft proposal for these activities.
