Developing strategies to monitor pollution levels in River Indus

Partner Institutes
Newcastle University	Government College University, Faisalabad

The mighty Indus, which once nurtured one of the greatest ancient civilisations, is now rated the tenth most threatened river in the world. Climate change and unchecked pollution have caused toxin levels to rise dangerously; a fact that does not bode well for a country whose economy is based on agriculture. But the Indus is more than just a water resource for farmers – it is one of the major sources of drinking water for the villages that surround it as well as a vital support structure for local industry.

Having been nurtured by it for centuries, it is now an important responsibility for the region to protect the Indus from total extinction. The INSPIRE collaboration between the Government College University, Faisalabad and Newcastle University, UK aims to monitor the levels of pollution in the Indus using fish as an indicator. Aquatic animals, particularly fish, accumulate metal toxins in their bodies and hence are an excellent gauge of pollution in their external environment.

By devising strategies to minimise toxin levels in the Indus, the project will greatly improve the quality of life in the surrounding communities, where contaminated water is one of the major causes of disease. Moreover, they will be able to reap economic benefits from farming fish that is safe for consumption.

The partnership hopes to involve the local and national governments to devise a comprehensive awareness campaign to control river pollution and help save one of the country’s greatest natural resources.

Lessons learnt:

In the study area water pollution is increasing through municipal and industrial wastes and return-agriculture flows through drainage structures, so there is a great need of minimising the pollution in this area. The growing agricultural crops in the surrounding area of the River Indus are a source of pollution which is threatening the aquatic life including fish.

Challenges faced:

The agricultural farmers working in the areas are used to cropping around the River Indus for many years are less willing to change their agricultural practices. It will take time to convince and train them about the hazardous effects of the pesticides and insecticides.

Impact:

This project will have long term impact on reducing aquatic pollution by creating awareness in the community about the hazardous effects of pollutants on fish growth and production. This may increase the economy of rural community and ultimately of country and help in reducing poverty in rural communities. At the end of INSPIRE project 50 staff members of both genders will be trained in aquatic genotoxicological research and more trained staff will be available at general and public level for fish farming and educating agricultural farmers about the hazardous and genotoxic effects of pollutants on aquatic fauna and flora including Fish. The findings of this project will be published in various reputed International Journals which will be the intellectual property of both HEIs.

Key contacts:

Dr. Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry, Newcastle University
a.s.chaudhry@newcastle.ac.uk, www.newcastle.ac.uk

Dr. Farhat Jabeen, Government College University, Faisalabad
farjabeen2004@yahoo.co.in, www.gcuf.edu.pk