The building of dams in any country is a technical matter and not a political matter. But unfortunately, in Pakistan our politicians play politics even in technical matters.
The classic example is that of the construction of Kalabagh Dam (KBD) on river Indus at a natural site. Our celebrated political leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh who see no national interest in doing their politics, have managed to delay its construction for the last over two decades. It is very astonishing that they have accepted the building of Bhasha dam which is far more expensive and more time consuming than KBD and is also very dangerously located on fault lines of volcanic mountain ranges.
It is suggested that a national commission be constituted which should comprise of competent engineers from all the provinces who should make recommendations of building of dams in the country and lay down priorities or order of construction. It is like making an atom bomb for the country which was so essential for our survival and the provinces were not consulted in making it.
India has constructed hundreds of dams on rivers flowing down to Pakistan and we have built only two mega dams and feel happy about it. Building KBD urgently is as necessary as was making an atom bomb.
Our enemy is going to starve us to death during the next decade if we do not build big reservoirs of water. Politicians are requested to realise the gravity and seriousness of the problem and let the technical people have their say in technical matters. They should see the larger interest of the country.
MUHAMMAD AZHAR KHWAJA
Lahore