Water source of precious revenue

More than a few recent reports have sounded the alarm about a looming water crisis in the Arab world. Arabia has been classified as the worst affected region in terms of per capita share of sweet water.

The region relies heavily on foreign water sources mainly from Ethiopia and Turkey according to a study by the Abu Dhabi-based Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-up, an Arab League affiliate.

The study calls on Arab states and other countries in the Middle East to work for a collective agreement on sharing water resources. The alternative is frightening: the possible outbreak of a major conflict that could be triggered by fear of thirst.

It is worrisome indeed that, although Arabs account for over seven per cent of the world's population, their share of the global recoverable water resources does not exceed 0.5 per cent. The average per capita share of sweet water in the world is around 7,000 cu. mts per year against the Arab share of less than 1,000 cu. mts.

Arab governments throughout the Middle East are alive to the looming threat and some have either set in motion, or are planning, more desalination projects. Arab statesmen, intellectuals and planners have called for consultations among themselves to fashion a common strategy.

It is such initiatives that the Arab world should regard as its most effective route to meet what could prove to be its greatest challenge. This is also where Arab solidarity and creativity will be tested as never before.

To be sure, a vital part of the solution will be based as much on pragmatism as altruism because, finally, those nations that have more access to fresh water, and enough for their needs, will be called upon to share some of their precious resources with their less fortunate neighbours.

It is not that there has been a complete lack of awareness of the issue. Over the past few decades, government spokes-persons and the media have focused attention on the worsening demand-supply position.

In the mid-seventies, some regional states had explored the possibilities of towing icebergs from the Arctic to their shores, to be exploited via modern technology.

There is a great opportunity here for nations in south Asia especially, to explore mutually beneficial trade arrangements with many Middle East nations. Have any south Asian leaders, planners or media people examined the prospect of exporting fresh water to the Middle East in, say, 2020?

Actually, it doesn't demand 2020 vision to see the possibilities. With all the nations of south Asia having good relations with the Arab world, even barter deals cannot be ruled out for two vital gifts of nature: water and oil.

Your reporter sees a win-win situation here. Imagine hundreds of tankers, some with oil and others with water, delivering two commodities that both regions cannot do without.

South Asia, blessed with monsoons, and considerable rainfall in between, has never done an adequate job of trapping and storing that enormous volume of water.

Some nations are happy to see so much water drain into streams and rivers and finally end up in the sea. Such nations as Bangladesh are often 'blessed' with too much water; Sri Lanka, also in a high rainfall area, has yet to think in terms of mega storage.

Initiatives of this nature will need massive investment in tank farms close to major ports; huge catchment and storage areas in the higher elevations of countries; hundreds of kilometres of pipelines to move the water to the tank farms.

And every rupee, taka or whatever spent will bring manifold returns. Because not one drop of that water will go to waste.