The Engineering Review of 15-31 August issue has reported that government has plans to build Bhasha dam on BOOT system ie, (build-own-operate-transfer) at a cost of 12 billion US$ for a 30-year contract. In other words, it would mean selling the mega dam to a private party which could control supply and prices of water and power to serve its own interests. It is stated that no country has ever sold its mega dam to a private concern. When bidding takes place even a country against Pakistan could bid for the dam.
It appears the government has failed to marshal funds for the said dam from ADB and World Bank. That’s why it has plans to adopt BOOT system of building it. The World Bank had financed the feasibility cost of Kalabagh dam which could have been funded by the Bank but the elusive consensus on the dam has not been achieved by the government which keeps Kalabagh dam on the back burner or even on an extinguished burner. What greater tragedy there could be than to relegate a mega dam to BOOT system!
DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore