In a statement to the press a PPP leader has said the nation will build the Bhasha dam as it would benefit the country by Rs1.3 billion a year through cheap hydel electricity, $635 million through water for irrigation and $300 million through carbon credits, besides saving of $2.85 billion under the head of oil import. It would generate 4,500MW cheap hydel electricity, besides providing over 6MAF water for agriculture. President Zardari believes that the Bhasha Dam project is a gateway to the nation’s progress and critical to meeting its energy needs. PPP government believes that the dam will bring about a revolution in the agriculture sector, as well as in agri-based industries offering tens of thousands of job opportunities.
But it needs to be taken into consideration that the Bhasha dam will take twelve years to be completed. It is the responsibility of the government to take short-term steps to mitigate the extant problems the people are currently facing and that such long-term plans do not address immediately. The government should also consider other alternative projects that can be completed earlier and require less funding. This way, projects like the Bhasha dam, which are meant for the long-run and often face more difficulties (such as those funding, planning snags etc), can be supplemented with other efforts.
Engr Khurshid Anwer
Lahore