Northern Areas Public Works Department (NAPWD)

On an official level the responsibility for constructing water supply schemes, hydro projects and water channels in the Northern Areas lies with the NAPWD. It has already been shown in this chapter the extent to which this government agency is involved in developing water power projects in the area (see Tables 2 & 3).

In towns the water is managed by the NAPWD. Channels, fed by streams, lead into water supply systems. For example, in the town of Gilgit there are five piped water supply schemes in the southern part which are fed by two water channels. In the north side of the town, the piped water supply depends on a river for its water. The piped water supply in Skardu town derives its source from Satpara lake. A survey conducted by the Government of Pakistan revealed that as many as 92% of the households in Gilgit town and 80% in Skardu town have piped water connections (Raza, 2002). However, the quality of piped drinking water in the towns is low and much of it is contaminated with fecal matter. Although some treatment options are available in town water supplies, because of high demand in summer months these treatments are very difficult to carry out by the authorities.

Local Government and Rural Development Department (LG&RDD)

Another main player in providing irrigation channels, water storage tanks and water supply and sanitation facilities to the rural communities is the LG&RDD which was formed in 1979 as Community Based Services (CBS) with UNICEF. During the next 8-9 years 158 water supply schemes were completed. Then in 1991 an umbrella program assisted by UNICEF was started. For the first time HDPE pipes were used and were very successful. Right now 42 schemes using these pipes are going on (Syed Akbar Kazmi, Assistant Director, RWSS, LG&RDD, Gilgit, pers. comm.).

Then the Social Action Program (SAP) began in 1993 in the Northern Areas. During SAP I the target was to complete 38 projects but 26 were completed. During SAP 11 which began in 1997 the following schemes were completed:

Table . Water supply schemes completed by LG&RDD, 1997-2002, under SAP 11

Source: Syed Akbar Kazmi, Assistant Director, RWSS, LG&RDD, Gilgit

In 2003-04 there are about 20 schemes going on and they are also hoping to initiate 5-6 new schemes.

LG&RDD water supply projects are implemented by regional offices staffed by regional and assistant directors and engineers. Their projects are announced through the village Union Councillors. Villagers submit their applications to the Assistant Director of their district. All unskilled labor is provided by the community, whereas the Union Councillors acquire skilled labor and non-local materials from the funds provided to them by LG&RDD. One tap each is provided to 5-10 households. During the construction, a village-level project committee is formed to monitor the system construction. A plumber is also hired and trained to maintain the water supply facilities. Each household must contribute Rs.120 per year for the maintenance of the water project (WASEP, 2001). Additionally, LG&RDD does the monitoring of the project through its Monitoring and Evaluation Unit in which Assistant Directors and higher level officials also participate.

Table . Project involvement of LG&RDD in water schemes in the Northern Areas

Source: Syed Akbar Kazmi, Assistant Director, RWSS, LG&RDD, Gilgit

3.3 Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA)

Like throughout the country, WAPDA is responsible for harnessing and developing water resources in the Northern Areas. With the help of GTZ it carried out a study to find practical solutions to the chronic power shortages in the Northern Areas. This study did a detailed assessment and analysis of the hydor-power potential of these areas and is purported to have a big impact on the development of the region’s energy and water sector (Government of Pakistan & IUCN, 2003).

Additonally, WAPDA is involved in large water development projects here such as the Sadpara Dam Project in Skardu district which would provide water both for irrigation and power. Another of WAPDA’s big, multi-purpose project under feasibility study is the Basha Dam project near Chilas in Diamer district.

3.4 Department of Agriculture, Northern Areas

This department has entered the arena of water management since 2003. Its mandate is to make improvements to existing channels and not to construct new ones. It is working on two projects as of end 2004 – one project costing Rs. 4 crore for improving 80 channels, and the other project costing Rs. 30 crore for improving 600 channels. So far 10 channels have been improved.

Additionally, in the Rs.4 crore project, the department is engaged in other activites also such as construction of water storage tanks, protective bunds and green tunnels.

For each channel the department has an upper spending limit of Rs.250,000. Water Users Associations (WUAs) are formed and the community contributes 20% of the total cost of the project in the form of labor. Once the channel has been improved, the maintenance and repair are the responsibility of the WUAs. Ten channels have been completed so far and the department is using unspent funds from last year to complete more channels this year.

The department is also working on two projects to minimize leakage and wastage of water from channels. Through these efforts the farmers in Diamer have been able to grow off-season peas and earned Rs. 40 million by selling them down-country. Farmers have also been growing seed potatoes and other off-season vegetables like capiscum to augment their incomes (Maqsood Hussain Malik, Director, Department of Agriculture, Northern Areas, pers. comm.).