A yet another revelation has been made for Bhasha dam in a section of national English press that work on Bhasha dam would start by the end of 2013.
Previously, two groundbreaking ceremonies have been performed in 2006 and 2011. This project was to be completed in 12 years time and it is being now said it would take 8 years to build it i.e., after 2013.
It appears Bhasha dam is presented before the gullible people of Pakistan as a subterfuge or a smokescreen to divert attention from KBD which could be completed in six years time after the word go as all studies for this dam have been completed.
Even the tender documents were ready to be floated in 1985 when the then PM got cold feet and the project was put on a backburner. The PPP government has tried its level best to present Bhasha dam as a lollypop for the people to suck and stew in their own juice.
The formidable task of building a new 135 KM road to bypass the present road would take years before heavy machinery for the dam could be transported. There are other seismic hazards and lack of a camping site for the labour have to be solved before construction could begin. Finally, Bhasha dam alone would not be enough and too late if KBD is not built in tandem.
DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
