Kalabagh Dam

The Facts

Allah has blessed Pakistan with numerous resources, water is one of those gifts. To understand its importance it is necessary to have knowledge on the following:

1. What number of dams and reservoirs are designed on all the rivers and how much work has been done on them.
2. What is the real picture and what are the facts about Kalabagh Dam? Why is it important, necessary and essential for our country?
3. What are the objections raised by some political parties against Kalabagh Dam, and what is the factual position?

The Kalabagh Dam would provide 6.5 million acre feet of water to cultivate seven million acres of currently barren land in addition to the 3,600 megawatts of electricity it would provide

At the time of independence, our newly formed country had no infrastructure of power generation. There were only small diesel or coal powered generation plants in various cities, but to meet the major requirement we were dependent on India. In 1958 when Field Marshall Ayub Khan took over the government, with all the other important steps, shortage of power was also taken as a very important issue and work on war footings was started.

As already stated we are blessed with many natural resources, especially water. We have five rivers and a number of subsidiaries which can give us sufficient power as well as huge water reservoirs for irrigation, if properly planned. Ayub Khan’s government gave full attention towards this side and started immediate survey for suitable sites for the construction of Hydro Power Projects, Water reservoirs / Dams, Head-Works and Barrages. Within a short period of six months a complete study was formed stating the number of places and sites where dams on River Indus and River Jehlum could be constructed as well as sites and places where barrages can be constructed on River Chenab, River Ravi and River Sutlej.

First of all we will go through the study on River Indus. According to the study only on river Indus we could construct Hydro Power Projects, Water Reservoirs/Dams and Barrages at fifteen (15) different sites. The study also revealed that there were certain sites which were more important and where the development work could be started with immediate effect. Following this study, two sites on River Indus were selected for dams where we could avail power generation facility as well as water reservoirs which would be linked to canals for irrigation purpose. One site was Kalabagh, which was a natural dam and the other was Tarbela. On river Jehlum, Mangla was selected for immediate implementation. The other reason to select these sites was that these were almost in the centre of the country from where the cost of electricity distribution network would cost less and the controls would be easy, secondly, from water reservoirs, water would easily be connected to the canal system used for irrigation. In 1959, immediate work was started at Mangla Dam site.

On the other side Tarbela was preferred to Kalabagh. There were two reasons; one , the cost of Tarbela Dam was higher than the Kalabagh Dam, and financial help from the World Bank was required, whereas cost of Kalabagh was less and could easily be meet with our own resources. Second reason was political disturbance created by Raja George Sikandar Zaman who was in opposition of Ayub Khan and had a high influence in Haripur area where some land were to be acquired by the government. It was decided that with Ayub Khan being in power, the people of the area would cooperate, but later when Ayub Khan may not be in power, this man having high influence in the area may be a hindrance in the construction of this dam, as well as Khanpur Dam (only a reservoir dam), which was also constructed during that time.

So, work on Tarbela and Mangla Dam was immediately started. Mangla was to generate 1100 megawatts with a water reservoir of 5.5 million acre feet and Tarbela was planned to produce 3490 megawatts electricity with a water reservoir of 11.09 million acre feet.

Before going into further details, it is important to understand the flow of rivers and the places they fall into each other. Starting with River Swat which flows from Kalam to Nowshera for 12 months, with an enormous quantity of water. At Nowshera it falls into river Kabul which is coming from Afghanistan, crossing through Peshawar. From Nowshera these two rivers jointly fall into Indus at Attock. From Attock bridge, the flow of these two rivers can easily be seen, Indus in blue colour and the other two in mud colour. They go a long way side by side then ultimately merge into each other.

From Attock to Kalabagh, there is no place where this enormous quantity of water flowing from three rivers can be stored. Kalabagh is the only place where this water can be stored.

From Kalabagh reservoir, water can not only be used for generation of electricity but can also be utilised to irrigate the barren areas of KPK, Sind and Balochistan. The site of Kalabagh is a natural dam, which can be constructed in much less time with less cost than a regular dam. It can store and preserve all that water flowing from rivers Indus, Swat and Kabul, which at present is going waste and falls into the Arabian Sea. It’s sheer negligence of our governments and leaders that since long we are wasting this gift of nature which can be very useful for irrigation and can also generate electricity for the national grid.

Bashir A. Malik, former chief technical advisor to the United Nations and World Bank, said, “Sindh and Pakhtunkhwah would become drought areas in the years to come if Kalabagh Dam was not built.” At the same time, former KPK Chief Minister and former Chairman WAPDA Mr Shamsul Mulk has stated that the “Kalabagh Dam would be helpful in erasing poverty from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as it would irrigate 800,000 acres of cultivable land that is located 100–150 feet above the level of River Indus.”

Experts who supported the construction of the Kalabagh Dam at the 2012 “Save Water Save Pakistan” Forum included: Dr Salman Shah, former Finance Minister of Pakistan; Abdul Majeed Khan, TECH Society president; Shafqat Masood, former IRSA chairman; Qayyum Nizami, former Minister of State; Prof Abdul Qayyum Qureshi, former Vice-Chancellor of Islamia University, Bahawalpur; Dr Muhammad Sadiq, agricultural scientist; M Saeed Khan, former GM of Kalabagh Dam Project; Engr. Mahmudur Rehman Chughtai, Mansoor Ahmed, former MD of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Foundation, Tariq Mushtaq, former Project Head, KDB, M. Zubair Sheikh and Jameel Gishkori, among others. The participants of Save Water Save Pakistan demanded the construction of five dams, including the Munda Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, Akhori Dam and the Kalabagh Dam, at by 2025 at the latest to store water and generate electricity to meet demand.

The length of Kalabagh dam reservoir will be80km. From there Nowshera city is 110km, and if the dam is full to its ends, the height of Nowshaera will be 60 feet above that level. So, the story which has been framed by a political party of KPK, that Nowshera will drown, does not have any truth and reality in it, rather 800,000 acres barren land will be irrigated with the rise in the level of the river. This area is 100-150 feet above river level, when the level of the river is raised, it would be easily irrigated.

In the same way, around 1,000,000 acres of land of Sind will also be irrigated from the water reservoir of Kalabagh Dam. The politicians and feudals of Sind also have framed a story for their poor and uneducated people that if Kalabagh Dam is constructed, River Indus will have no water in flow and sea water will enter inside the river bed, damaging the lands. This is just a story to confuse the poor farmers and small land owners, so that they don’t get benefit of water for their fields, which can get them a better living and education for their children. Actually the feudals have a fear that if these people get education and better living, feudals won’t be able to keep them under their thumb. In fact, Karachi and Sind is seven meters above sea level, so there is no question of sea water flowing back into the river. Only at “delta” the sea water flows in at the time of “Mud-O-Jazr”. Secondly, the bed of the river will not get dry. Once the dam is filled water flow will be in routine and will remain as it is flowing now. Same way, huge area of Balochistan will also get water for irrigation through this dam’s reservoir.

Actually, the Indian government is spending a huge amount against the Kalabagh Dam. India does not want that Pakistan should ever build this dam and save the water which at present is totally wasted and which would very badly be required in the coming days.

In addition to irrigation, Kalabagh Dam would also generate 3600 megawatt electricity, which when added in the national Grid will bring down the electricity cost. Delay in the construction of this dam is criminal on part of the rulers because it is their utmost duty to look after the National Interest. People had no hope from Asif Ali Zardari or his party, but Zia ul Haq and Pervaiz Musharaf could very easy construct it, yet they also became more political than the politicians. They also lost their national interest only for their lust of power and to remain in seat for a longer time.

Let me explain that from Gilgit to Kalabagh, how many dams can be constructed on the River Indus, which have been designed by Wapda and require immediate attention as well as authoritarian steps of the head of the state.

1-Bunji Hydro Power Project

The proposed Project is located on Indus River 83km from Gilgit. It is planned Run of the River Hydropower Project. This will generate of 7100 mega watt in two stages. First stage will start generation of 2800 mega watts and in second phase total 7100 mega watt will start generation.

2-Basho Hydro Power Project

The proposed scheme is along a 1km lower stretch of Basho Lungma, a left tributary of Indus River. The confluence of Basho Lungma with Indus River is located about 40km downstream of north-west of Skardu town and 704km north-east of Islamabad. This Hydropower Project can generate 40MW. Its cost is estimated at Rs91.243 million.

3-Diamer Basha Dam

The proposed project is located on Indus River, about 315km upstream of Tarbela Dam, 180km downstream of the Gilgit-Baltistan capital Gilgit city and 40km downstream of Chilas city. The proposed RCC dam would have a maximum height of 272m, and impound a reservoir of about 8.1 million acre feet (MAF), with live storage of 6.4MAF. Mean annual discharge of Indus River at the site is 1977 cusecs. The dam will impound 15 percent of the annual river flow. The project would cover an area of 110km² and the reservoir would extend 100km upstream of the dam site up to Raikot Bridge on Sharah e Rashem. This hydro project can generate 4,500 mega wall electricity.

4-Dasu Hydro Power Project

The proposed Dasu Hydropower Project is a run of river project on the Indus River located 7km upstream of Dasu Town, District Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The site is 74km downstream of proposed Diamer Basha Dam site and 345km from Islamabad. Project will generate 5,400 MW (15 Units @ 360 MW each) hydroelectric power. It will be completed in two Stages (Stage-I&II). Stage-I will generate 2160 MW (06 Units @ 36 MW each) with annual energy of 12,222 GWh. Stage-I will be completed in five years. The project is being financed by the World Bank.

5-Lower Spatt GAH Hydro Power Project

The proposed Spat Gah is the left bank tributaries of Indus River in Kohistan District, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. The confluence of Spat Gah is located 8km downstream of Dasu town, 35km up stream of Patan town. The Project is located 365km from Islamabad and has the capacity to generate 496 MW hydropower.

6-Patan Hydro Power Project

The proposed Patan Dam site is located on the Indus River about 4km upstream of village Patan downstream of Keyal Khwar. The power house is planned on the left bank 4km downstream of Besham Qila and 305km from Islamabad. This project will generate 2,300 MW electricity. The cost of this project is estimated at Rs731.233 million (2013).

7-Thakot Hydro Power Project

This proposed hydro project is located in a narrow section of Indus River, about 3km downstream of Besham. Distance from Islamabad is about 240km. It is designed to generate 4,000MW hydropower electricity. It cost is estimated at Rs719.628 Million (2013).

8-Tarbela Dam

The project is located at a narrow spot in the Indus River valley, at Tarbela in Haripur, shortly located at the point from where the District Swabi then starts. Here the river formerly split around a large island close to the left bank. The main dam wall, built of earth and rock, is the world’s largest Earth-Filled Dam, stretches 2,743 metres (8,999ft) from the island to river right, standing 148 metres (486ft) high. A pair of concrete auxiliary dams spans the river from the island to river left. The spillways, located on the auxiliary dams, in turn consist of two parts. The main spillway has a discharge capacity of 18,406 cubic metres per second (650,000 cu ft/s) and the auxiliary spillway, 24,070 cubic metres per second (850,000 cu ft/s).

Hydroelectric power plant on the right side of the main dam houses 14 generators fed with water from outlet tunnels 1, 2, and 3. There are four 175 MW generators on tunnel 1, six 175 MW generators on tunnel 2, and four 432MW generators on tunnel 3, for a total generating capacity of 3,478 MW. Tarbela Reservoir is 80.5 kilometres (50.0 mi) long, with a surface area of 250 square kilometres (97 sq mi). The reservoir holds 11,600,000 acre feet (14.3km³) of water, with a live storage of 9,700,000 acre feet (12.0km³).

Mangla was to generate 1100 megawatts with a water reservoir of 5.5 million acre feet and Tarbela was planned to produce 3490 megawatts electricity with a water reservoir of 11.09 million acre feet

It is very important to note an astonishing fact: Tenders of Tarbela Dam were opened in December 1966. The lowest tender was of 259 Crore Dollars while the others were of 296 Crore Dollars, 366 Crore Dollars and 384 Crore Dollars. Ayub Khan’s government selected the lowest bid, but the World Bank did not agree to finance that company which was from Italy and had collaboration with a German firm. Ayub Khan asked his finance minster, Mr Muhammad Shoaib, and a civil servant Ghulam Farooq Khan to confirm two things; one, what is the international standing of the company and secondly, can the government meet the foreign component from its own resources. The answer came within 48 hours that the company had a good standing in the international market and that the government of Pakistan could meet the foreign component from its own resources. So, the world Bank was informed that we did not need their financial help. It was a great achievement, later on the World Bank also joined and provided the financial help, but we started this dam with our own resources.

These were the people who were sincere to the nation and did not know the word “commission”, they used to spend the national exchequer as a custodian of the nation. After Ayub Khan’s regime, especially after 1977, it’s very sad that our governments right from Zia regime to the present regime, purchased everything by raising the cost by double , triple and sometimes four times. The Zardari regime was notorious in this regard.

Another commendable vision of the then rulers and an admirable fact about Tarbela Dam is that it has five tunnels. Right now the generation system is attached only on three tunnels, which generate 3490 megawatts. In 2013, the Nawaz government started installation of turbines and generators on tunnel number four, which on completion will generate 1450 megawatts of electricity, which when added in the national grid will reduce the cost of electricity which has been terrifically raised because of thermal generation.

9-Ghazi Bharota Hydro Power

Ghazi-Bhrota Hydropower Project is a run of the river project. Water from the river Indus enters into a canal from Ghazi and falls backs in river Indus at Bharota after going through the generation of 1450 mega watt electricity. This project was designed by the Wapda engineers without any foreign consultancy.

10-Kalabagh Dam

The Kalabagh Dam is a proposed hydroelectric dam on the Indus River at Kalabagh in the Mianwali District of Punjab Province in Pakistan. The dam would have 3,600 megawatts of electricity generation capacity.

The Kalabagh Dam would provide 6.5 million acre feet of water to cultivate seven million acres of currently barren land in addition to the 3,600 megawatts of electricity it would provide.

Some people say that Basha Dam is a substitute of Kalabagh Dam. It is very important to note that Basha Dam is no substitute for Kalabagh Dam, not because of its altitude, which is high enough, but because no irrigation canals can be taken out from it because of the hilly terrain.

From the above you can easily determine and understand that we can generate 33,350 megawatt electricity only from River Indus, double than our present requirement, which means very cheap electricity and an industrial revolution. Moreover we can run railways on electricity, which will save a lot of foreign exchange which is spent on the purchase of diesel for railway engines. During Ayub Khan’s regime, an electric train was started between Lahore and Khanewal, which after 1977 stopped working and at present number of its installations have been stolen or disposed off, very sorry, it’s a national loss, , it’s a state of sorrow, what else I can say.

In 17^th and 18^th centuries, countries fought wars over control of water and rivers. Then in the 19^th century wars were over territorial controls. In coming days, once again, wars will be over control of water.