According to a press report five Awami National Party provincial ministers and Senator Afrasiab Khattak criticised remarks of Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC) that “objections of Khyber Pakhtunkhwha (KP) and Sindh to the construction of Kalabagh dam (KBD) were political in nature”. He was hearing several petitions submitted in the public interest urging construction of Kalabagh dam. (Oct 27)
Remarks by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial were fully justified. The ANP’s criticism was mostly political rhetoric. However, comments on certain relevant observations by Senator Afrasiab Khattak, ANP’s spokesman, follow.
1) KBD issue is already settled since provincial assemblies of KP, Sindh and Balochistan passed resolutions against it.
Re 1): Foregoing ANP statement endorsed Chief Justice Bandial’s above noted remarks as decision of the three assemblies was political since no competent engineer was consulted by any assembly regarding technical aspects of the multi-purpose great dam.
2) The ANP claimed that according to reports by Pakistan’s and foreign engineers that “KBD would be detrimental to the interest of KP as the most fertile land of the province would be seriously affected”.
Re 2): I never came across such a report though associated with Kalabagh, Mangla and Tarbela dams since June 1956, before WAPDA came into being. Regarding damage to fertile lands of the province, it is wrong. KBD backwater would remain at least 10 miles downstream of Nowshehra in the event of worst ever flood in the River Indus.
3) Bhasha dam is a useful alternative to the KBD.
Re 3): Diamer-Bhasha dam of roller compacted concrete with unprecedented height of about 900 feet would be of deadly risks for the people and their country as repeatedly forewarned by me for the last over four years through media. Furthermore, Bhasha dam may not be built for decades since premier funding institutions like World Bank and Asian Development Banks have declined to finance it being risky investment.
Be that as it may, my KP friends should be aware that KBD was used by their predecessors as a bargain chip by preferring construction of Bhasha dam instead of KBD in exchange for its hydel royalty which was not available in the case of the latter since its powerhouse was to be located in Punjab instead of KP.
BASHIR A MALIK (ALIG)
Lahore