In view of the World Bank declaring Bhasha dam a risky investment we are catching on straws like a drowning man. Some talk of USA donating $200 million for the dam while others dream of Russia footing the entire $13 billion bill for the dam. In thebackground of Russian President cancelling his visit to Pakistan there does not appear any silver lining to the clouds hanging over the dam. In view of the fact that even Tarbela dam was not filled to capacity during the summer his year due to reduced flow from glaciers and snowmelt due to global warming, how do we expect to fill up Bhasha dam in future when the glaciers are further reduced.
Meanwhile, there is no dam below Tarbela to store rain water that is yearly ravaging Punjab, KP, Sindh and Balochistan. The PPP wizards ought to ponder over the dire situation. Thar coal can be no substitute for a mega hydroelectric dam that could not only provide cheap renewable power but also water from rains predicted to be severe in the future. Only Kalabagh dam can fill the bill to mitigate our water and power woes. Is WAPDA listening?
DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore