The Punjab Forum on Friday said it is difficult for country to survive without proposed hydroelectric Kalabagh Dam (KBD).
The existing dams are not enough to save country from becoming desert while the Diamer-Bhasha Dam will take almost a decade to start power generation, it said.
Tarbela and Mangla Dams are likely die by 2030 and 2070; KBD is the best option to cater for the growing energy demand, said Baig Raj, President Punjab Forum in a statement.
The KBD can start producing electricity in 2.5 years while it would have a lifetime of 450 years. It can boost industry and agriculture, cut oil import bill, save foreign exchange and help irrigate twenty million acres of wasteland, he said.
He said that country is losing reservoir capacity and vast tracts are becoming barren calling for urgent decisions otherwise country will be left with one sowing season.
Those who are opposing KBD are dancing on the tunes of India that has been conspiring to make Pakistan as a waterless country, he added.
Baig Raj said an economical issue has been made a serious political matter in Pakistan giving opportunity to rulers to pursue controversial rental and thermal power projects.
Reliance of thermal power will continue to push cost of electricity which amount to playing havoc with the masses, industry and agriculture while Punjab is made to share most of the burden, he said.
Why can’t government convince allies on construction of KBD if it can do the same in case of NFC award, he questioned.
He said that Punjab is being denied of energy which has left millions unemployed which can result in food insecurity. Tall claims of provincial harmony and equal distribution of resources is nothing but a deception.
We lost 105 million acre feet of rain and flood water into Arabian Sea in 2010 because of lack of water reservoirs, he informed.
Central government has stopped delivery of two power plants which were to be installed in Punjab. The amount of demurrage has left 2000 mw projects unviable, he said.
Only KBD, the best natural dam site in Pakistan can cure the ailing economy of Pakistan, the Punjab Forum statement said.
Difficult to survive without KBD:Baig Raj
