It has been reported in the press that a group of ANP MNAs have expressed their support for Kalabagh dam, subject to a consensus between the provinces. If the Water Accord of 1991 had not actually been for developing consensus on Kalabagh dam, would Punjab have reduced its own share to increase Sindhs share in all future dams, equal share for both, despite the 70:30 disparity in the area under cultivation?
The required consensus has already been achieved since all the provinces had agreed to the necessity of more dams on all the rivers including on the Indus. Also the 37 and 14 percent share respectively for Punjab and KP under the Water Accord cannot be utilised by them without the left bank and right bank canals at Kalabagh dam.
In fact, north Punjab and KP will not get any water from any dam on the Indus without the above mentioned canals. All the water from all these dams will flow down to Sindh and Balochistan. Surely this could not have been the intent of the Water Accord.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore