Defect by design

The Daral Khawr Project’s disputed feasibility

On April 30 this year, the Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Amir Haider Khan Hoti, kicked off his government’s 10 year hydroelectricity plan by inaugurating the Daral Khwar Hydropower Project in Bahrain, Swat. While the announced 10 year hydro-energy plan deserves to be praised, there is also a need to also take into account the impact the projects are likely to have on the lives, environment and economy of the communities where these projects are to be constructed. There is much advocacy in the world to go green; Hydropower generation is deemed to be one of the the best initiatives in this respect. But the threats posed by constructing these projects cannot be ignored. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the potential for hydel energy generation mostly lies in Swat-Kohistan, Chitral and Indus Kohistan — the regions where ethnic minorities have been dwelling since centuries. These mountainous regions are amongst the least developed in Pakistan despite being blessed with abundant natural resources and tourist attractions. It is perhaps because the areas are not well represented in the political setup.

If one were to conduct cost-benefit analysis of the proposed projects in the government’s plan, for most of them, the harms would not outweigh the benefits. But one project amongst these could potentially have disastrous effects on a community of over 25,000 people. The Daral Khawr Hydropower Project has been designed by the government’s body Sarhad Hydel Development Organization (SHYDO). The project will be situated in Bahrain, Swat and will supposedly produce 36.6 megawatts of electricity. But it’s not that simple and emphasis is on the word supposedly. The feasibility report states that 3 of the turbines will be closed for three months in the winter while only one will be on for 4 months as water in the Daral River falls during these months. Thus, the average production will be closer to 19 megawatt (not accounting for other technical losses). Paying over 7 billion for just 19 megawatt is too much; and this is not to mention that there will be the additional detriment to agriculture, domestic use of water, the environment and tourism in the region. Over 25,000 people will thus be affected.

The Daral River flows from the glaciers up in the elevated hills and it dissects the valley and the twon of Bahrain. Here it meets the mighty Swat River and makes a beautiful confluence with foggy waterfalls refreshing the atmosphere around. Up in the valley beyond the town, it feeds the arable lands via 12 water channels; it also provides water for domestic consumption in the town and cleans the air.

The current plan under the power project designed by the SHYDO is to divert the Daral River, at a point in the Daral River valley 6 km from the town of Bahrain, into a 3 km pressure tunnel in the western hill and to have it fall on the proposed power plant to be built on the main Bahrain-Mingora road away from Bahrain. Thus, the town will lose the river and its water and consequently get barren lands, fewer tourists and many diseases. Even the meaning of the name of Bahrain will be lost as it’s named after the two rivers.

The Daral Khwar Hydropower Project was to be initially funded by the Asian Development Bank but it dropped it from its portfolio in mid-2011 after commissioning a fact finding mission on the project due to the concerns and reservations of the local community.

The affected community has never demanded a halting of the project; they merely want a slight change in the current design so as to ensure that the water of the river fall into it at a point behind the town of Bahrain. Twice in the past two years, the community has sent complaint letters to the provincial Environment Protection Agency and the people are still waiting for a reply. Similar letters were also sent to the chief minister and the concerned cabinet members but to no avail.

When in a meeting early this year, the chief minister approved the project and scheduled his inauguration visit, the people of Bahrain decided to use their democratic right of protest. However, prior to the CM’s visit on April 30, a number of meetings were organised by the MPA of PK-85 and the district administration but they resulted in nothing but false promises. When these placatory tactics did not work, the ‘divide and rule’ formula was tried – with a measure of success. Those who are the beneficiaries of the project (the ones whose lands would be acquired for the construction of the weir, penstock and the site road) were brought forth against the end users of the water of the Daral River. Old community feuds were rekindled and, consequently, the linguistic minority was further divided into clans and factions. This was deliberately done by certain members of the administration. Even the army was involved to quieten the agitated people. All this was done to make the CM’s visit a success but a complete shutter down strike was observed in Bahrain on the day; the honourable chief minister might have noticed.

Due to the apathy of the provincial administration despite the successive tabling of letters with the Chief Minister, this non-Pashtun linguistic minority has felt further neglected and their sense of deprivation has deepened. The affected community does not demand huge dividends from the project. All they want is the Daral River and its water. The change in the current design is quite feasible. The SHYDO is not the last word on the design and feasibility of the project. A third independent party should be brought in to adjudge the feasibility for a change in the current design as per the wishes of the people of Bahrain. How dear the people of the mountains hold their water and the ecology of their land is unfortunately beyond the comprehension of those who rule them.

The writer is a researcher and civil society activist based in Bahrain Swat where he heads IBT, a local organization. Email: [email protected]