It is a pity that some editorials have come out in support of Sindh’s concern that the flow in the Indus will be reduced if Kalabagh dam is built. Dams are built the world over to overcome shortages and not to create them. Mangla dam was built to compensate for the loss of the three eastern rivers and brought about a green revolution in the country. Could it have done this by reducing the flow in the Jhelum? Tarbela dam increased supply to the canals by 25 percent, could it have done this by reducing the flow in the Indus? Sindh got an additional 7 million acre feet of water from Tarbela dam? As per the Water Accord of 1991, Sindh stands to get 2.2 million acre feet from Kalabagh dam, can it get this if the dam reduces flow in the Indus? Please check with the Sindh irrigation department to see the post-Tarbela increase of 7 maf over the pre-Mangla withdrawals in the canals of Sindh, also the 27 lac acre increase in the area under cultivation. These increases did not come about by reduction in the flow of the Indus. In this day and age of technology, we should speak on the basis of verifiable data and not on the basis of hearsay.
ENGR KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
Now that the PPP minister for water and power has, on the floor of the house, declared Kalabagh dam as a most beneficial project, the PPP government should either take up the project or explain why the country should be deprived of the multi billions that will accrue from the project according to their minister.
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