Save lives by investing in environmental protection

Shah Karez

For the last 25 years we are seeing climate change in Chitral like none elsewhere. As many as 45 villages have been hit by flash floods during these years, some of them repeatedly. Annual floods have become the new normal in certain villages.

The poetic charms of Reshun and Sonoghur villages no more exist. The souls of Baba Muhammad Siyar of Shogram and Ziarat Khan Zerak of Sonoghur will surely not return to see their respective beloved villages (Reshun and Sonoghur) in the ugly form they stand today.

Similarly, the birds are migrating away singing the annals of their abode in Brep and other villages. These three villages among the many have sad stories of flood devastation. If the condition of repeating floods continue the population will have no option except to migrate elsewhere.

   Reshun

Reshun is attacked by river erosion of the worst kind as well, so the very existence of this historic place is threatened. Similar will be the condition of other villages that are prone to GLOF and flash floods in Chitral, if the government and the NGOs do not take urgent measures to minimize the associated risks.

The story of increased and repeated floods begins with the turn of the current century. In 2001, Yarkhunlasht was hit by GLOF followed by floods in Wasumgole. In 2005, Brep village was devastated by similar floods. GLOF hits Sonoghur in 2007, Buni and Reshun in 2010. Since then, 45 villages across Chitral have become victims of floods. The main reason for increasing GLOF is surely climate change resulting in global warming but there are also local exacerbating factors.

Deforestation by timber mafia, increasing use of fuel-wood, costly electricity, pasture degradation by excessive trampling, denudation of non-timber forest products, and flood devastation. Additional factors that contribute to environmental degradation include careless planning and developmental activities such as using outdated and conservative mountain blasting techniques for road construction.

Way forward

Bring investment from donors and use the finances coming from the international community on account of flood losses as decided in COP27 and 28 for the following activities:

1. Provide compensation to the people affected by floods and rehabilitate them.

2. Construct small hydel and solar power generation units to provide affordable green energy to the people of Chitral. This will surely reduce dependence on forest products for heating and cooking.

3. Ensure strict vigilance that timber mafia does not take away the remaining forest in the southern parts as has been the practice.

4. Turn the range land into green by lifting water and by involving the local communities in large scale afforestation.

5. Provide incentives to encourage agroforestry practices.

6. Improve Pasture Management and Conservation Practices (PMCP).

7. Exercise strict control on poachers.

8. Work with the communities to revive the traditional method of ‘Saq’ and rotational grazing.

9. Train the Gujar community in how to behave with nature and natural resources, not a difficult job.

10. Build resilience by dredging of the flood courses to allow flash floods pass without causing mush damages to private houses and other properties.

11. Construct check dams wherever required on the slopes to contain rain water run off.

It is understood that the public exchequer always remains short of funds. The international community is willing for help after COP 27 and 28 repeatedly assured to make up the flood losses and damages wherever they occur, so the onus is on our government how it manages the funds.

The communities in the northern mountains, specially in Chitral, are the ones most affected by floods and deserve priority in the allocation. The government must recognize the fact that our mountain peaks are the fresh water reservoirs that must be protected in the best national interest.

The steps mentioned above, if taken honestly, will go a long way to improve the deteriorating environmental conditions.