Wapda has informed the national assembly standing committee on water and power that load-shedding will not end before 2018. Also that the demand will increase from the present 17,000 to 130,000 MW by the year 2030. A linear increase of about 6000 MW per year for the next 19 years. The committee was informed that Wapda was buying power at Rs 10.18 per unit and supplying it at Rs 1.5 per unit.
A huge drain on the exchequer. But Kalabagh dam which can generate 3600 MW of clean power at about Rs 1.0 per unit is not being built because it is in Punjab. Surely in this age of advanced technology and satellite imaging it should be possible to ensure equitable distribution of river water. Punjab has already agreed to take a lesser amount in favour of Sindh in all future dams. Gilgit and Baltistan have a further potential of 60,000 to 100,000 MW. Indus is our untapped source of water and power.
ENGR KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
