The recent flood in Indus River of 2010 played havoc in Pakistan and specially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). The high flood level at Nowshera was 961ft, which was 10ft higher than the record flood of 1929. The high flood level at Barotha Power Complex (BPC) was 922ft which was higher than the designed level of 902ft of BPC. Had there been Kalabagh Dam on 28/7/2010. The high flood level at BPC would have been gone up to 947ft (922ft+25ft) which would have caused loss of total generation at BPC and devastation in KPK would have created Tsunami like condition.
In order to save KPK and BPC from future floods, after the construction of Kalabagh Dam, the expert engineers of KPK Mr. Fathehullah Khan, the former chairman IRSA, has proposed to build 100feet low Kalabagh Dam with overhead barrage of 60’ which would generate 2000 MW to 6000 MW of power on the run of the river and the project may be completed in 3 years. This proposal of the expert engineer published in the daily DAWN on 26/12/2011. Mr Faqir Ahmad Paracha, who is an eminent engineer, has supported the above proposal on 1/1/2012 published in the daily DAWN, may be with the intention that something is better than nothing.
A similar proposal of Mr. Fathehullah Khan has already been supported by the writer of this column which was published in the daily Mashriq Peshawar on 19/9/2010. However the proposal may kindly be considered by the concerned authority for implementation in the best interest of the nation for the flowing reasons.
1. To save Nowshera city and BPC from devastation of floods, WAPDA has assured to keep the Kalabagh Dam reservoir level at 859’ on 30th July every year. For this purpose the Mid Sluicing Gates of Kalabagh Dam would be operated for releases more than 12 lac cusecs discharge which would be dangerous and would not save the flood affected population of D.I Khan, Mianwali, Kot Adu and Sindh etc. in the monsoon season. The low KD is the only solution.
2. BPC would be saved from attack of sediment delta of Kalabagh Dam Reservoir.
3. The free flow drainage, from Peshawar valley, would not be obstructed with stored water and sediment delta of K.D.
4. Generation of power of BPC would not reduce with K.D Reservoir.
5. KPK would be able to use its share of water, unutilized since 1991.
6. Sindh would get its due share of water through the proposed barrage and from the run of river used for power generation.
