Lahore High Court had been hearing several petitions (including one by this scribe) requesting for a direction to the government for construction of Kalabagh Dam to afford earliest relief to the people of Pakistan from violation of their fundamental rights by unending load-shedding and growing water scarcity.
On 29 November 2012 Mr. Justice Umar Attta Bandial Chief Justice of Lahore High Court directed the federal government to construct Kalabagh Dam (KBD) in compliance of the decision of the Council of Common interests (CCI) taken on 16 September 1991. The bold and laudable decision by Chief Justice Justice Umar Atta Bandial was welcomed by the people with great joy it assured them much needed relief from continuing violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, due to unbearable hardship of load-shedding and water, food scarcity. In fact current government had contravened CCI decision of September 1991 by burying the project on 26 Mayn 2008.
The Apex Court decision has irked some self-serving politicos who consider Pakistan as their personal fiefdom. Their contention that 3 provincial assemblies of Sindh, KPK and Balochisdtan had passed resolutions against construction of the dam was nothing but a house of cards. They conveniently forget that the decision by the Chief Justice of LHC to build the dam was based on the fact that its construction was approved by CCI in 1991 as noted earlier.
Secondly, we should be aware that KBD is a c highly complex gigantic hydraulic engineering undertaking. To understand even rudimentary elements of a multipurpose project as KBD and to pass resolutions based on judgment on their merits or demerits without technical help falls with due respect, beyond comprehension of our honourable members of the provincial assemblies and the parliament. Not to forget that some of them are illiterate and many holders of fake degrees. None of the assemblies in question called for any briefing by competent engineers before passing resolutions opposing construction of KBD. According to press reports, some members even did not know on what river the KBD was to be built on.
I have been associated with Mangla, Tarbela and Kalabagh dams since June 1956 even before WAPDA was born. And studied many more abroad as Chief Technical Advisor UNO. In my assessment, technically, economically and environmentally KBD would be by far the best project on the Indus. The only river with surplus water to be stored in summer and released for irrigation of Rabi (winter) crops predominantly wheat. KBD will yield live storage of 6.1 maf (million acre feet). It will help irrigate at least 4 million acres of cropland.
Water released for irrigation will be passed through a power house to generate 3600 mws (mega watts) of much cheaper and environmentally friendly hydro-power as a byproduct. Electricity produced at Kalabagh will about RS 1 per unit against Rs 16-20 of thermal power paid by the people.
Water stored will be shared by all 4 provinces according to their fixed shares. Water power generated at Kalabagh Dam will also be used by the whole country through the Wapda national grid. With its designs and contract documents already finalized and with World Bank funding certain first power units of KBD if implemented on a war footing, could begin supply of electricity 5-6 years after start of construction – much earlier than any other project on the Indus.
In short, only KBD could afford urgently melded relief from crippling agony of unending load-shedding, water scarcity and sky rocketing prices, rates and races in the earliest possible time frame. Name it Pakistan dam if some are allergic to Kalabagh dam.
BASHIR A MALIK (ALIG)
Lahore