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Natural Resources - Coggle Diagram
Natural Resources
The Indus River System:
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• During the monsoon season, it discharges the most.
• Around 20 million hectares of cultivated land that accumulated to 60% of the land of Pakistan is irrigated by the Indus River and its tributaries.
• Its basin includes highly populous areas of Pakistan including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Jhelum, and Gujrat. They accumulate to a population of 50 million.
• The western tributaries of Kurram, Tochi, Swat, Kabul, and Gomal have the most water in the summer season.
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• For irrigation, purpose canals are taken out of the rivers as none of its rivers are absorbed by the plains.
Rivers of Balochistan:
• As compared to the Indus River System, the Balochistan rivers are considerably smaller.
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• Three of Balochistan’s rivers drain into the Indus River namely Kalachi, Khandar, and Zhob while flowing eastwards.
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• Few of its rivers also drain into the Arabian Sea namely Mashkel, Hab, Hingol and Porali.
• The Kachi Sibi Plain absorbs rivers Mula, Bolan, Loralai, and Chakar.
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Indus Water Treaty:
• It was a contract between Pakistan and India that was signed in 1960 under the supervision of UNO.
• This treaty was considering the water dispute that both the countries faced when it comes to the distribution of rivers after partition in 1947.
• Pakistan received the authority of Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus.
• India received the authority of Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas.
• Pakistan received financial aid from India, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to construct link canals, barrages, and dams.
Importance:
• After partition in 1947, the headworks of many rivers were left in India at Firozpur.
• Since Pakistan has unreliable and insufficient rainfall, the water of these rivers was essential for irrigation.
• In 1948, India stopped the water supply of these rivers to Pakistan and Pakistan had to purchase this water from India to support its agricultural economy.
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Surface Water Pollution:
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• The waste contaminates the groundwater and if people drink it, they can suffer from diseases like hepatitis, diarrhea, etc.
• In agriculture, pesticides are used that can also contaminate the ground and surface water.
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Water Table:
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Problem:
• Oftentimes, the water table is also contaminated by toxic chemicals and domestic waste like the groundwater.
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Uses of Water:
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• Domestic – It is used in washing, cooking, drinking, and sanitation.
• Industrial – It is used to cool down furnaces in steel & iron industries, to dilute chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textile industries for humidity, dyeing and washing, mineral water and food processing.
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Dams and Barrages:
• Barrages and Dams are constructed at the cross-section of rivers to store water. This stored water can then be used for various purposes including irrigation.
Names of Large Dams:
• Tarbela Dam on River Indus, Mangla Dam on River Jhelum and Warsak Dam on River Kabul.
Name of Small Dams:
• Hab on River Hab, Khanpur on River Haro, Nari/Bolan Dam on River Bolan and Rawal Dam on River Kurrang.
Name of Barrages:
• Qadirabad Barrage, Chashma Barrage, Rasul Barrage, Guddu Barrage, Kotri Barrage and Marala Barrage.
Barrages & Dams:
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• Barrages cannot produce electricity because they are built on flat surfaces, Contrary, dams are created over a slope and can produce electricity.
• Dams and Barrages both can be used to support fishing, flood control, and irrigation.
Importance of Barrages:
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• The gates are closed, and water is held in a barrage.
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• The link canals compensate for the loss of water by taking it away from western rivers to eastern rivers.
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• It helps in yielding more bananas, wheat, rice, etc.
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• Barrage offers many benefits but farmers overuse water that results in water salinity and logging.
Ground Water:
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Importance:
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• It helps in areas where rain is limited, and irrigation systems are needed. E.g. Balochistan.
• In cities like Karachi, this water fulfills the domestic needs of people.
Problems:
• In industrial areas, it is not suitable for human consumption as toxic chemicals and sewerage are disposed of in it.
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Comparison between Small Dams,Large Dams & Barrages
Small Dams & Large Dams:
• Both dams are used for fishing, flood control, and irrigation.
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• Large dams can support irrigation for a larger area. For example, Rawal Dam irrigates 5000 hectares of land while the Warsak dam can irrigate 48000 hectares of area.
• All large dams can produce HEP is a huge amount. Whereas, small dams either can or cannot produce HEP; if they can then they amount is HEP is still very less than big dams’ production.
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