A wrong impression is being created that it is only the unprecedented rains in Sindh which are causing all the damage. The very vast catchment areas of the Indus and its tributaries of Kabul, Chitral, Swat, Haro and Sohan trap a major portion of the 30 maf annual monsoon flows and bring them down to Sindh. The full flowing canals and waterways then impede drainage of the accumulated rainwater causing further misery to the people.
Not much can be done to tackle the heavy local rains, but the up country monsoon flows can be and must be stored in reservoirs wherever possible to alleviate the flood havoc in Sindh. We can ill afford to allow this to happen every year on an incremental basis because of global warming.
While all possible sites on the tributary rivers like ‘Munda’ on Swat river should be explored, Kalabagh dam by itself will rescue Sindh from the annual flood havoc in the foreseeable future. No misplaced argument should be allowed to stand in the way of the only logical solution to the problem.
ENGR KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
