Glad to share in 2011 from IUCN platform with Royal Netherlands Embassy @NLembassy funding developed a Delay Action Dam in Kund Malir, Hingol National Park near N-25 Coast Highway about 250 km’s in west of Karachi, inorder to improve tje Water Security and resilience in Coastal Balochistan while improving community resilience and supporting climate change adaptation strategy on the coast and in suburbs.In Kund Malir, women folk is responsible to collect water, look after house chores, children, cook food, collect firewood and fodder for domestic animals. The village has no access to fresh water and it mainly relies on the dug wells and Hingol river about 25-30 km’s away from the village on the eastern side which is again a costly business for them as they need to engage water tanker which costs a lot to these poor folks depending on fisheries mainly and on partial rainfed agriculture. Before intervention well was not working well and it took a lot of time to fetch water to five women then rest of women had to rest for water to accumulate in the stratum of the dug well. After construction of delay action dam the power of holding water in the well has increased to very satisfactory level. Now a number of women can pull water from the well at a time before it was a dream for the local women and mostly they consumed their whole day to collect water for domestic needs from the well. But now women are very happy as they can quickly finish the business and later can give attention to their other responsibilities. It is estimated that about 500-1000 women access the well on daily basis.
Yesterday got a chance to see this structure again this gave me immense pleasure to see site functional and communities/women active and happy at Kund Malir. The dam has enough storage capacity to support water needs of resident communities for more than 3 months if water harnessed and stored properly at homes in underground tanks.
The play area was developed for children and besides a Well recharging efficiency was improved by improving structure. A washing pad was created to improve hygiene conditions around the Well and a canopy was installed above the well to protect womenfolk from sun stroke.
More than 3000 people rely on this delay action and well for collecting drinking water. Well supports life and domestic needs of households located in Kund Malir. No, any other nearby fresh water resource is available for the dwellers.
I personally remained on-site during the construction phase of delay action dam to ensure sustainability of structure and quality control to make it successful initiative for the water scarce community. Designed all parameters, prepared budget, monitored, took part in the construction phase, ensured 100% participation of local communities and local skills even materials were purchased from local vendors to support local business as well.
The community at Kund Malir and especially women are very happy since 2011 as this well provides sufficient water supply for the local needs and delay action dams boast recharge zone during a rainy period.
Children enjoy play area and this gives me more than happiness and satisfaction that I helped depressed, deprived and water scarce community and transformed them into a resilient community in Kund Malir, Hingol National Park, the Coastal Balochistan.
A small shower in catchment areas of delay action dam brings happiness and water is being collected in the dam without any additional effort and hassle. Every time water is being collected inside the dam, community informs and shares the news and happiness with me. Now the community has realised the importance of this strategic asset and site and structure is being properly monitored and protected as to support the sustainability of the initiative. Dry branches of spiny trees like of Devi (Prosopis juliflora) is being used to fence the structure to protect it from animals and unnecessary access of humans.
Let us make efforts in such a way that these efforts should help in progressing life of local people.
Nature Again 