India is out to damage Pakistan water interest on Kabul river.

[A-Team]

India out to damage Pakistan’s water interests on Kabul river

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s authorities with the help of Indian experts have completed the feasibilities and detailed engineering of 12 hydro-power projects with capacity to generate 1,177MW of electricity to be built on the river Kabul.

If the 12 projects get completed, they will store 4.7 million acre feet of water squeezing the flow in the river reaching Pakistan.

India, which also helped Afghanistan in repairing the Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) on the river Chishti-e-Sharif in Herat province, is already erecting the hydro-power projects on the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus with an objective to get the capacity to maneuver water flows destined to reach Pakistan and is now active to squeeze the water artery coming from Afghanistan.

According to a document exclusively available with The News, Indian experts have completed the feasibilities and detailed engineering of the 12 projects to be built on the river Kabul. The authorities in Kabul after completing the tendering process will be initiating construction of multi-purpose water projects on the tributaries of the river Kabul with assistance from the international community. India plans to assist Afghanistan in this initiative, which will adversely impact on Pakistan. The documents also show that the World Bank will provide funding for the 12 dams that will cost $7.079 billion.

The most ironic part of the whole episode is that Pakistan’s authorities have failed to develop water uses on the river Kabul as they failed to build the Kalabagh Dam at the site on the Indus where the river Kabul merges with the river Indus.

Similarly, Pakistan’s authorities have also failed to construct the Munda Dam on the river Kabul. The failure in developing water uses has weakened Pakistan’s case against the resolve of Afghanistan to build the 12 hydro-power projects on the river Kabul.

The documents unveil that four hydro-power projects will be constructed in the Punjshir sub-basin. These include the $332 million Totumdara project which will generate 200MW of electricity and have water storage capacity of 332,510 acres feet; the $1.174b Barak project which will generate 100MW of electricity and store 429,830 acres feet of water; $1.078 billion Panjshir (100MW) project with the capacity to store 105,4300 acres feet of water; and the $607 million Baghdara (210MW) project with the capacity to store 324,400 acres feet of water.

In the Logur Upper Kabul sub-basin on the river Kabul four more dams are to be built which include the $72 million Haijana project (72MW) with water storage capacity of 178,420 acres feet; $207 million Kajab (15MW) project with water storage capacity of 324,400 acres feet; the $356 million Tangi Wadag (56MW) project with capacity to store 283,850 acres feet; and $51m Gat (86MW) project with water storage capacity of 405,500 acres feet. Four more dams will be built in the Lower Kabul sub-basin, including the $442 million Sarobi project (210MW) with the capacity to store 324,400 acres feet of water; the $1.434 billion Laghman project (1251MW) with water storage capacity of 233,568 acres feet; and the $1.094 billion Konar (A) (94.8MW) and Kama projects (11.5MW).

Pakistan and Afghanistan currently share nine rivers with annual flows of about 18.3 million acres feet (MAF) of which the river Kabul accounts for 16.5MAF, while River Chitral, which originates from Pakistan, contributes about 8.5MAF. After it enters Afghanistan this river is called River Kunar. It joins the river Kabul near Jalalabad and then re-enters Pakistan.

However, the documents say: “Ninety percent of Afghanistan’s land area is located in the five river basins namely: Panj-Amu Darya River Basin, Northern River Basin, Harirud-Murghab Basin, Helmand River Basin and river Kabul basin. The total storage capacity of these dams is around 4.7 million acre feet. It is further estimated that the planned dams will utilise 0.5 MAF water to irrigate additional 14,000 acres of land.

“Afghanistan has the right to utilise water from the river Kabul as the total flow of Kabul River is 21,000 million cubic meter. But the river Kunar, which contributes 15,000 million cubic meter to the river Kabul, originates from Pakistan.

“In the absence of major dams in Pakistan, it is feared that Pakistan will have to buy electricity from Afghanistan, which is the underlying purpose of the above mentioned plan of the Afghan government in collaboration with India.”

However, Syed Mehr Ali Shah, Joint Secretary (Water Wing) in the Ministry of Water and Power said that all the water uses of river Kabul are 100 percent committed up to Kotri Barrage. Pakistan is the country which is facing water deficit and has total water flows in its rivers and dams stand at 137 MAF and these water uses have been developed for the last many decades and no upper riparian country like Afghanistan can utilize the committed water uses of Pakistan.

Mr Shah said that Afghanistan could utilize 2.5 MAF water for irrigation purposes at the maximum. However, at Warsak, Pakistan has committed water flows of river Kabul of 16-17 MAF out of which 8-8.5 MAF water comes from the river Chitral which generates from Pakistan. “No doubt it is the failure of the authorities and political leadership of not building the Kalabagh Dam and Munda Dam, but if the said dams are not built, even then Pakistan’s water uses of river Kabul are established and Pakistan’s case is very strong if needed to move any international forum,” he claimed.

When asked about the huge quantum of 36 MAF water that went down the drain during the flood season, Mr Shah said that it was flood water which could not be stored. However, in the remaining months, Pakistan faces the water deficit and the Kabul water uses are 100 percent committed in Pakistan. He said since there is no water treaty with Afghanistan, but under the international convention Pakistan has the right to utilise 17 MAF water in river Kabul as the said water uses are committed in lower riparian country. Likewise Afghanistan uses 1.8 MAF which is its developed water rights. Both the countries under the international convention are bound to continue to utilise their developed water uses. To a question Mr Shah said that Munda is being built on Sawat basin which is Pakistan’s own basin.

Talking about the 4.7 MAF water to be stored in 12 hydropower project being built on river Kabul, Mr Shah said that it was not correct as the water storage would not be more than 2 MAF. However, in the initial filling, the said projects may store the water more than 2 MAF, but after that projects will not be able to store more than 2 MAF. However, the Afghanistan if tries its best, it can use 2.5 MAF water from river Kabul to irrigate its plain lands at the maximum.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow the paranoia of some in Pakistan is just mind boggling, now it seems that in addition to India the World Bank is also in cahoots with Afghanistan to damage Pakistan!

PS : There are well establishment world conventions that regulate how water is shared between countries, Afghanistan will utilize its waters based on those conventions and as matter of fact it has been in talks with Pakistan on how to build a dam on the Kunar river so that the generated electricity can be shared with Pakistan.

Moral of the story : We need a pan regional mindset and folks like the writer are still stuck in the 80s. All these dams when built will better regulate water assets and share the generated electricity with Pakistan and rest of the neighbouring countries.



http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/125490-India-out-to-damage-Pakistans-water-interests-on-Kabul-river

 

[GURU DUTT]

Wow the paranoia of some in Pakistan is just mind boggling, now it seems that in addition to India the World Bank is also in cahoots with Afghanistan to damage Pakistan!

PS : There are well establishment world conventions that regulate how water is shared between countries, Afghanistan will utilize its waters based on those conventions and a sa matter of fact it has been in Talks with Pakistan on how to build a dam on the Kunar river to that the generated electricity can be shared with Pakistan.

Moral of the story : We need a pan regional mindset and folks the writer here still stuck in the 80s. All these dams when built will better regulate water assets and share the generated electricity with Pakistan.



http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/125490-India-out-to-damage-Pakistans-water-interests-on-Kabul-river

problem is infact since they never want to aknowledge and correct there mistakes and always looking for some "support" from a "friend" to do there job and when things go bad to worse due to there own greed and wrong policies while there neighbours keep doing there work smartly they think every one is conspiring against them and this attitude has seeped so much that now every one knows they wont change

but at least Afghanistan is getting back on the track of greatness which it always deserved ... God Bless Afghanistan

 

[shah1398]

There are well establishment world conventions that regulate how water is shared between countries, Afghanistan will utilize its waters based on those conventions and as matter of fact it has been in talks with Pakistan on how to build a dam on the Kunar river so that the generated electricity can be shared with Pakistan.

We even at Pakistan dont listen to Jew Tv then how come U have taken them seriously? Its your water and U have full right to utilize it they way U want. Peace and Stability in Afghanistan means Peace and Stability in Pakistan. In fact Afghanistan should initiate more such projects.

 

[nair]

he most ironic part of the whole episode is that Pakistan’s authorities have failed to develop water uses on the river Kabul as they failed to build the Kalabagh Dam at the site on the Indus where the river Kabul merges with the river Indus.

Similarly, Pakistan’s authorities have also failed to construct the Munda Dam on the river Kabul. The failure in developing water uses has weakened Pakistan’s case against the resolve of Afghanistan to build the 12 hydro-power projects on the river Kabul.

If that is the case, then the title of the article should have been "Pakistan is out to damage Pakistan's water interest on Kabur river"

 

[shah1398]

“In the absence of major dams in Pakistan, it is feared that Pakistan will have to buy electricity from Afghanistan, which is the underlying purpose of the above mentioned plan of the Afghan government in collaboration with India.”

Now here the writer has crossed the red line called Sanity. I mean What The

 

[pakistani342]

India out to damage Pakistan’s water interests on Kabul river

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s authorities with the help of Indian experts have completed the feasibilities and detailed engineering of 12 hydro-power projects with capacity to generate 1,177MW of electricity to be built on the river Kabul.

If the 12 projects get completed, they will store 4.7 million acre feet of water squeezing the flow in the river reaching Pakistan.

India, which also helped Afghanistan in repairing the Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) on the river Chishti-e-Sharif in Herat province, is already erecting the hydro-power projects on the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus with an objective to get the capacity to maneuver water flows destined to reach Pakistan and is now active to squeeze the water artery coming from Afghanistan.

According to a document exclusively available with The News, Indian experts have completed the feasibilities and detailed engineering of the 12 projects to be built on the river Kabul. The authorities in Kabul after completing the tendering process will be initiating construction of multi-purpose water projects on the tributaries of the river Kabul with assistance from the international community. India plans to assist Afghanistan in this initiative, which will adversely impact on Pakistan. The documents also show that the World Bank will provide funding for the 12 dams that will cost $7.079 billion.

The most ironic part of the whole episode is that Pakistan’s authorities have failed to develop water uses on the river Kabul as they failed to build the Kalabagh Dam at the site on the Indus where the river Kabul merges with the river Indus.

Similarly, Pakistan’s authorities have also failed to construct the Munda Dam on the river Kabul. The failure in developing water uses has weakened Pakistan’s case against the resolve of Afghanistan to build the 12 hydro-power projects on the river Kabul.

The documents unveil that four hydro-power projects will be constructed in the Punjshir sub-basin. These include the $332 million Totumdara project which will generate 200MW of electricity and have water storage capacity of 332,510 acres feet; the $1.174b Barak project which will generate 100MW of electricity and store 429,830 acres feet of water; $1.078 billion Panjshir (100MW) project with the capacity to store 105,4300 acres feet of water; and the $607 million Baghdara (210MW) project with the capacity to store 324,400 acres feet of water.

In the Logur Upper Kabul sub-basin on the river Kabul four more dams are to be built which include the $72 million Haijana project (72MW) with water storage capacity of 178,420 acres feet; $207 million Kajab (15MW) project with water storage capacity of 324,400 acres feet; the $356 million Tangi Wadag (56MW) project with capacity to store 283,850 acres feet; and $51m Gat (86MW) project with water storage capacity of 405,500 acres feet. Four more dams will be built in the Lower Kabul sub-basin, including the $442 million Sarobi project (210MW) with the capacity to store 324,400 acres feet of water; the $1.434 billion Laghman project (1251MW) with water storage capacity of 233,568 acres feet; and the $1.094 billion Konar (A) (94.8MW) and Kama projects (11.5MW).

Pakistan and Afghanistan currently share nine rivers with annual flows of about 18.3 million acres feet (MAF) of which the river Kabul accounts for 16.5MAF, while River Chitral, which originates from Pakistan, contributes about 8.5MAF. After it enters Afghanistan this river is called River Kunar. It joins the river Kabul near Jalalabad and then re-enters Pakistan.

However, the documents say: “Ninety percent of Afghanistan’s land area is located in the five river basins namely: Panj-Amu Darya River Basin, Northern River Basin, Harirud-Murghab Basin, Helmand River Basin and river Kabul basin. The total storage capacity of these dams is around 4.7 million acre feet. It is further estimated that the planned dams will utilise 0.5 MAF water to irrigate additional 14,000 acres of land.

“Afghanistan has the right to utilise water from the river Kabul as the total flow of Kabul River is 21,000 million cubic meter. But the river Kunar, which contributes 15,000 million cubic meter to the river Kabul, originates from Pakistan.

“In the absence of major dams in Pakistan, it is feared that Pakistan will have to buy electricity from Afghanistan, which is the underlying purpose of the above mentioned plan of the Afghan government in collaboration with India.”

However, Syed Mehr Ali Shah, Joint Secretary (Water Wing) in the Ministry of Water and Power said that all the water uses of river Kabul are 100 percent committed up to Kotri Barrage. Pakistan is the country which is facing water deficit and has total water flows in its rivers and dams stand at 137 MAF and these water uses have been developed for the last many decades and no upper riparian country like Afghanistan can utilize the committed water uses of Pakistan.

Mr Shah said that Afghanistan could utilize 2.5 MAF water for irrigation purposes at the maximum. However, at Warsak, Pakistan has committed water flows of river Kabul of 16-17 MAF out of which 8-8.5 MAF water comes from the river Chitral which generates from Pakistan. “No doubt it is the failure of the authorities and political leadership of not building the Kalabagh Dam and Munda Dam, but if the said dams are not built, even then Pakistan’s water uses of river Kabul are established and Pakistan’s case is very strong if needed to move any international forum,” he claimed.

When asked about the huge quantum of 36 MAF water that went down the drain during the flood season, Mr Shah said that it was flood water which could not be stored. However, in the remaining months, Pakistan faces the water deficit and the Kabul water uses are 100 percent committed in Pakistan. He said since there is no water treaty with Afghanistan, but under the international convention Pakistan has the right to utilise 17 MAF water in river Kabul as the said water uses are committed in lower riparian country. Likewise Afghanistan uses 1.8 MAF which is its developed water rights. Both the countries under the international convention are bound to continue to utilise their developed water uses. To a question Mr Shah said that Munda is being built on Sawat basin which is Pakistan’s own basin.

Talking about the 4.7 MAF water to be stored in 12 hydropower project being built on river Kabul, Mr Shah said that it was not correct as the water storage would not be more than 2 MAF. However, in the initial filling, the said projects may store the water more than 2 MAF, but after that projects will not be able to store more than 2 MAF. However, the Afghanistan if tries its best, it can use 2.5 MAF water from river Kabul to irrigate its plain lands at the maximum.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow the paranoia of some in Pakistan is just mind boggling, now it seems that in addition to India the World Bank is also in cahoots with Afghanistan to damage Pakistan!

PS : There are well establishment world conventions that regulate how water is shared between countries, Afghanistan will utilize its waters based on those conventions and as matter of fact it has been in talks with Pakistan on how to build a dam on the Kunar river so that the generated electricity can be shared with Pakistan.

Moral of the story : We need a pan regional mindset and folks like the writer are still stuck in the 80s. All these dams when built will better regulate water assets and share the generated electricity with Pakistan and rest of the neighbouring countries.



http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/125490-India-out-to-damage-Pakistans-water-interests-on-Kabul-river

@A-Team -- a little more research please -- just a little more:

1. Water is considered one of the greatest drivers of global conflict -- a cursory examination will give you an ample list of references to the subject -- Water issues between India and Pakistan are thought to be one of the triggers that may lead to a nuclear exchange between the two [yes Pakistanis may be paranoid but this is Western experts saying so]

2. The conventions on Water sharing are rather weak -- my knowledge is rather limited in this area but in other scenarios the stronger party has generally dominated: Turkey vs Syria, Israel vs neighbors, [India vs Pakistan to an extent], etc.

3. The one rule of thumb (references not at hand), in layman terms that governs the use of water between an upper (in this case Afghanistan) and lower riparian (in this case Pakistan) is that the lower has the stronger legal right (even for example in the case of Punjab vs Sindh, KPK vs Punjab) -- though its enforcement has been nonexistent

4. In fact Pakistan and Iran have both approached Afghanistan (references not handy) to work on a water sharing agreement but both have been rebuffed. In fact it is surprising that Iran has remained rather muted at the construction of Salma dam

On regional mindset -- let us remember that the European Union has found every fickle excuse to exclude Turkey from the EU while admitting the likes of Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovania -- I wonder what the reason maybe (?)

Similarly I do wonder if you and other Afghans wonder, that if Pakistan did not exist would Modi be bearing your gifts? [Where would a regional mindset be]

Think my brother: think.

 

[Winchester]

Here is an Indian POV on this:

Water: Pakistan will soon be one of the most water stressed countries on earth (per capita water availability will soon be half of India’s). Even if India sticks to the provisions of the Indus water treaty -in which 80% of Indus water goes to Pakistan, it can take several legitimate measures to restrict water availability for Pakistan such as:

-Work with Afghanistan to complete hydel projects on the Kabul-Kunar river system, (which contributes 16% of the total Indus river water available to Pakistan)

http://swarajyamag.com/world/a-new-non-diplomatic-approach-for-pakistan

 

[pakistani342]

India out to damage Pakistan’s water interests on Kabul river

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s authorities with the help of Indian experts have completed the feasibilities and detailed engineering of 12 hydro-power projects with capacity to generate 1,177MW of electricity to be built on the river Kabul.

If the 12 projects get completed, they will store 4.7 million acre feet of water squeezing the flow in the river reaching Pakistan.

India, which also helped Afghanistan in repairing the Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) on the river Chishti-e-Sharif in Herat province, is already erecting the hydro-power projects on the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus with an objective to get the capacity to maneuver water flows destined to reach Pakistan and is now active to squeeze the water artery coming from Afghanistan.

According to a document exclusively available with The News, Indian experts have completed the feasibilities and detailed engineering of the 12 projects to be built on the river Kabul. The authorities in Kabul after completing the tendering process will be initiating construction of multi-purpose water projects on the tributaries of the river Kabul with assistance from the international community. India plans to assist Afghanistan in this initiative, which will adversely impact on Pakistan. The documents also show that the World Bank will provide funding for the 12 dams that will cost $7.079 billion.

The most ironic part of the whole episode is that Pakistan’s authorities have failed to develop water uses on the river Kabul as they failed to build the Kalabagh Dam at the site on the Indus where the river Kabul merges with the river Indus.

Similarly, Pakistan’s authorities have also failed to construct the Munda Dam on the river Kabul. The failure in developing water uses has weakened Pakistan’s case against the resolve of Afghanistan to build the 12 hydro-power projects on the river Kabul.

The documents unveil that four hydro-power projects will be constructed in the Punjshir sub-basin. These include the $332 million Totumdara project which will generate 200MW of electricity and have water storage capacity of 332,510 acres feet; the $1.174b Barak project which will generate 100MW of electricity and store 429,830 acres feet of water; $1.078 billion Panjshir (100MW) project with the capacity to store 105,4300 acres feet of water; and the $607 million Baghdara (210MW) project with the capacity to store 324,400 acres feet of water.

In the Logur Upper Kabul sub-basin on the river Kabul four more dams are to be built which include the $72 million Haijana project (72MW) with water storage capacity of 178,420 acres feet; $207 million Kajab (15MW) project with water storage capacity of 324,400 acres feet; the $356 million Tangi Wadag (56MW) project with capacity to store 283,850 acres feet; and $51m Gat (86MW) project with water storage capacity of 405,500 acres feet. Four more dams will be built in the Lower Kabul sub-basin, including the $442 million Sarobi project (210MW) with the capacity to store 324,400 acres feet of water; the $1.434 billion Laghman project (1251MW) with water storage capacity of 233,568 acres feet; and the $1.094 billion Konar (A) (94.8MW) and Kama projects (11.5MW).

Pakistan and Afghanistan currently share nine rivers with annual flows of about 18.3 million acres feet (MAF) of which the river Kabul accounts for 16.5MAF, while River Chitral, which originates from Pakistan, contributes about 8.5MAF. After it enters Afghanistan this river is called River Kunar. It joins the river Kabul near Jalalabad and then re-enters Pakistan.

However, the documents say: “Ninety percent of Afghanistan’s land area is located in the five river basins namely: Panj-Amu Darya River Basin, Northern River Basin, Harirud-Murghab Basin, Helmand River Basin and river Kabul basin. The total storage capacity of these dams is around 4.7 million acre feet. It is further estimated that the planned dams will utilise 0.5 MAF water to irrigate additional 14,000 acres of land.

“Afghanistan has the right to utilise water from the river Kabul as the total flow of Kabul River is 21,000 million cubic meter. But the river Kunar, which contributes 15,000 million cubic meter to the river Kabul, originates from Pakistan.

“In the absence of major dams in Pakistan, it is feared that Pakistan will have to buy electricity from Afghanistan, which is the underlying purpose of the above mentioned plan of the Afghan government in collaboration with India.”

However, Syed Mehr Ali Shah, Joint Secretary (Water Wing) in the Ministry of Water and Power said that all the water uses of river Kabul are 100 percent committed up to Kotri Barrage. Pakistan is the country which is facing water deficit and has total water flows in its rivers and dams stand at 137 MAF and these water uses have been developed for the last many decades and no upper riparian country like Afghanistan can utilize the committed water uses of Pakistan.

Mr Shah said that Afghanistan could utilize 2.5 MAF water for irrigation purposes at the maximum. However, at Warsak, Pakistan has committed water flows of river Kabul of 16-17 MAF out of which 8-8.5 MAF water comes from the river Chitral which generates from Pakistan. “No doubt it is the failure of the authorities and political leadership of not building the Kalabagh Dam and Munda Dam, but if the said dams are not built, even then Pakistan’s water uses of river Kabul are established and Pakistan’s case is very strong if needed to move any international forum,” he claimed.

When asked about the huge quantum of 36 MAF water that went down the drain during the flood season, Mr Shah said that it was flood water which could not be stored. However, in the remaining months, Pakistan faces the water deficit and the Kabul water uses are 100 percent committed in Pakistan. He said since there is no water treaty with Afghanistan, but under the international convention Pakistan has the right to utilise 17 MAF water in river Kabul as the said water uses are committed in lower riparian country. Likewise Afghanistan uses 1.8 MAF which is its developed water rights. Both the countries under the international convention are bound to continue to utilise their developed water uses. To a question Mr Shah said that Munda is being built on Sawat basin which is Pakistan’s own basin.

Talking about the 4.7 MAF water to be stored in 12 hydropower project being built on river Kabul, Mr Shah said that it was not correct as the water storage would not be more than 2 MAF. However, in the initial filling, the said projects may store the water more than 2 MAF, but after that projects will not be able to store more than 2 MAF. However, the Afghanistan if tries its best, it can use 2.5 MAF water from river Kabul to irrigate its plain lands at the maximum.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow the paranoia of some in Pakistan is just mind boggling, now it seems that in addition to India the World Bank is also in cahoots with Afghanistan to damage Pakistan!

PS : There are well establishment world conventions that regulate how water is shared between countries, Afghanistan will utilize its waters based on those conventions and as matter of fact it has been in talks with Pakistan on how to build a dam on the Kunar river so that the generated electricity can be shared with Pakistan.

Moral of the story : We need a pan regional mindset and folks like the writer are still stuck in the 80s. All these dams when built will better regulate water assets and share the generated electricity with Pakistan and rest of the neighbouring countries.



http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/125490-India-out-to-damage-Pakistans-water-interests-on-Kabul-river

Here is a good start for you: "Column: Water wars are coming"

Pakistan, one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, has an ongoing dispute with India over access to water in which radicals have called for “water jihad.” New Delhi also fears that a new Chinese dam project in Tibet could be used to restrict water supplies downstream in northern India. In March, an Ethiopian dam under construction that could have limited Egyptian and Sudanese access to water nearly generated conflict. In central Asia, there is a similar ongoing disagreement over a Tajikistani dam that could restrict water access in Uzbekistan. These are but a few of the water tensions bubbling globally.

 

[Kambojaric]

Whilst the author is sensationalizing, there is no doubt that Pakistan is a stakeholder in the flow of the Kabul River, just as Egypt is a stakeholder in the Nile. The Indus is the lifeline of Pakistan just as the Nile is the lifeline of Egypt. As a tributary of the Indus, You would be an idiot to think Pakistan would not be interested/worried in the flow of the Kabul River.

 

[GR!FF!N]

Total insanity..Pakistan is not developing Infra and instead blaming other countries for developing their infra.I mean,what the ****??Who stopped Pakistan to develop dams in the first place?

 

[GURU DUTT]

Here is a Bharati POV on this

Water: Pakistan will soon be one of the most water stressed countries on earth (per capita water availability will soon be half of India’s). Even if India sticks to the provisions of the Indus water treaty -in which 80% of Indus water goes to Pakistan, it can take several legitimate measures to restrict water availability for Pakistan such as:

-Work with Afghanistan to complete hydel projects on the Kabul-Kunar river system, (which contributes 16% of the total Indus river water available to Pakistan)

http://swarajyamag.com/world/a-new-non-diplomatic-approach-for-pakistan

with all due respect Sir

its Indian or Bhartiya not bharti i will get banned if i use same kind of racial slur P*** for your people

you are a senior member please try to act like one ... SIR

as for this blog well its written by more like frustated students

as for Dams well remmeber sir ganga ram he along with british gave pakistan its canal system which made it such a grain basket but your sucsessive govenments dint even did proper de silting forget how many dams and canals they built but your media and tarzia nigars dont let any opportunity to blame india over the issue .... how convinient

 

[pakistani342]

India out to damage Pakistan’s water interests on Kabul river

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s authorities with the help of Indian experts have completed the feasibilities and detailed engineering of 12 hydro-power projects with capacity to generate 1,177MW of electricity to be built on the river Kabul.

If the 12 projects get completed, they will store 4.7 million acre feet of water squeezing the flow in the river reaching Pakistan.

India, which also helped Afghanistan in repairing the Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) on the river Chishti-e-Sharif in Herat province, is already erecting the hydro-power projects on the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus with an objective to get the capacity to maneuver water flows destined to reach Pakistan and is now active to squeeze the water artery coming from Afghanistan.

According to a document exclusively available with The News, Indian experts have completed the feasibilities and detailed engineering of the 12 projects to be built on the river Kabul. The authorities in Kabul after completing the tendering process will be initiating construction of multi-purpose water projects on the tributaries of the river Kabul with assistance from the international community. India plans to assist Afghanistan in this initiative, which will adversely impact on Pakistan. The documents also show that the World Bank will provide funding for the 12 dams that will cost $7.079 billion.

The most ironic part of the whole episode is that Pakistan’s authorities have failed to develop water uses on the river Kabul as they failed to build the Kalabagh Dam at the site on the Indus where the river Kabul merges with the river Indus.

Similarly, Pakistan’s authorities have also failed to construct the Munda Dam on the river Kabul. The failure in developing water uses has weakened Pakistan’s case against the resolve of Afghanistan to build the 12 hydro-power projects on the river Kabul.

The documents unveil that four hydro-power projects will be constructed in the Punjshir sub-basin. These include the $332 million Totumdara project which will generate 200MW of electricity and have water storage capacity of 332,510 acres feet; the $1.174b Barak project which will generate 100MW of electricity and store 429,830 acres feet of water; $1.078 billion Panjshir (100MW) project with the capacity to store 105,4300 acres feet of water; and the $607 million Baghdara (210MW) project with the capacity to store 324,400 acres feet of water.

In the Logur Upper Kabul sub-basin on the river Kabul four more dams are to be built which include the $72 million Haijana project (72MW) with water storage capacity of 178,420 acres feet; $207 million Kajab (15MW) project with water storage capacity of 324,400 acres feet; the $356 million Tangi Wadag (56MW) project with capacity to store 283,850 acres feet; and $51m Gat (86MW) project with water storage capacity of 405,500 acres feet. Four more dams will be built in the Lower Kabul sub-basin, including the $442 million Sarobi project (210MW) with the capacity to store 324,400 acres feet of water; the $1.434 billion Laghman project (1251MW) with water storage capacity of 233,568 acres feet; and the $1.094 billion Konar (A) (94.8MW) and Kama projects (11.5MW).

Pakistan and Afghanistan currently share nine rivers with annual flows of about 18.3 million acres feet (MAF) of which the river Kabul accounts for 16.5MAF, while River Chitral, which originates from Pakistan, contributes about 8.5MAF. After it enters Afghanistan this river is called River Kunar. It joins the river Kabul near Jalalabad and then re-enters Pakistan.

However, the documents say: “Ninety percent of Afghanistan’s land area is located in the five river basins namely: Panj-Amu Darya River Basin, Northern River Basin, Harirud-Murghab Basin, Helmand River Basin and river Kabul basin. The total storage capacity of these dams is around 4.7 million acre feet. It is further estimated that the planned dams will utilise 0.5 MAF water to irrigate additional 14,000 acres of land.

“Afghanistan has the right to utilise water from the river Kabul as the total flow of Kabul River is 21,000 million cubic meter. But the river Kunar, which contributes 15,000 million cubic meter to the river Kabul, originates from Pakistan.

“In the absence of major dams in Pakistan, it is feared that Pakistan will have to buy electricity from Afghanistan, which is the underlying purpose of the above mentioned plan of the Afghan government in collaboration with India.”

However, Syed Mehr Ali Shah, Joint Secretary (Water Wing) in the Ministry of Water and Power said that all the water uses of river Kabul are 100 percent committed up to Kotri Barrage. Pakistan is the country which is facing water deficit and has total water flows in its rivers and dams stand at 137 MAF and these water uses have been developed for the last many decades and no upper riparian country like Afghanistan can utilize the committed water uses of Pakistan.

Mr Shah said that Afghanistan could utilize 2.5 MAF water for irrigation purposes at the maximum. However, at Warsak, Pakistan has committed water flows of river Kabul of 16-17 MAF out of which 8-8.5 MAF water comes from the river Chitral which generates from Pakistan. “No doubt it is the failure of the authorities and political leadership of not building the Kalabagh Dam and Munda Dam, but if the said dams are not built, even then Pakistan’s water uses of river Kabul are established and Pakistan’s case is very strong if needed to move any international forum,” he claimed.

When asked about the huge quantum of 36 MAF water that went down the drain during the flood season, Mr Shah said that it was flood water which could not be stored. However, in the remaining months, Pakistan faces the water deficit and the Kabul water uses are 100 percent committed in Pakistan. He said since there is no water treaty with Afghanistan, but under the international convention Pakistan has the right to utilise 17 MAF water in river Kabul as the said water uses are committed in lower riparian country. Likewise Afghanistan uses 1.8 MAF which is its developed water rights. Both the countries under the international convention are bound to continue to utilise their developed water uses. To a question Mr Shah said that Munda is being built on Sawat basin which is Pakistan’s own basin.

Talking about the 4.7 MAF water to be stored in 12 hydropower project being built on river Kabul, Mr Shah said that it was not correct as the water storage would not be more than 2 MAF. However, in the initial filling, the said projects may store the water more than 2 MAF, but after that projects will not be able to store more than 2 MAF. However, the Afghanistan if tries its best, it can use 2.5 MAF water from river Kabul to irrigate its plain lands at the maximum.
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Wow the paranoia of some in Pakistan is just mind boggling, now it seems that in addition to India the World Bank is also in cahoots with Afghanistan to damage Pakistan!

PS : There are well establishment world conventions that regulate how water is shared between countries, Afghanistan will utilize its waters based on those conventions and as matter of fact it has been in talks with Pakistan on how to build a dam on the Kunar river so that the generated electricity can be shared with Pakistan.

Moral of the story : We need a pan regional mindset and folks like the writer are still stuck in the 80s. All these dams when built will better regulate water assets and share the generated electricity with Pakistan and rest of the neighbouring countries.



http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/125490-India-out-to-damage-Pakistans-water-interests-on-Kabul-river

Here is another from Aljzeera -- I know not you favorite source -- it has an interesting picture of what remains of the Aral sea: Are 'Water Wars' imminent in Central Asia?

I think this is one of the widely acclaimed books on the subject: The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water

A few more points:

1. No same person would dispute the fact that both Afghan and Pakistani people have rights to the water of Kabul river. But what wisdom did the Afghan people have to involve India in this matter -- some common sense might be needed.

2. A water sharing agreement between Kabul and Pakistan would be a very difficult thing to do but should be possible -- India and Pakistan have one that has worked reasonably well given the circumstances. A strong third party like the World Bank, or China and US can act as guarantors

3. But what wisdom Afghans think there is in poking the GHQ and the Pakistani people in the eye is beyond me. In Urdu there is a saying: "Aya bayl mujhay maar"

 

[I M Sikander]

Instead of crying likes babies of what India and Afghanistan are doing.
We should better built our own dams for our own good.

They are doing what's in their interest. What is stopping us to do some thing serious in terms of dams construction.

 

[Taimoor Khan]

If my memory serve one of the main artery which feeds Kabul river comes from Pakistan, I believe Kunar river. Pakistan I think told the Afghans to chill out a while back. I maybe wrong though.

 

[TMA]

If that is the case, then the title of the article should have been "Pakistan is out to damage Pakistan's water interest on Kabur river"

Woe upon the leaders of Pakistan!

Total insanity..Pakistan is not developing Infra and instead blaming other countries for developing their infra.I mean,what the ****??Who stopped Pakistan to develop dams in the first place?

Well said!

Here is another from Aljzeera -- I know not you favorite source -- it has an interesting picture of what remains of the Aral sea: Are 'Water Wars' imminent in Central Asia?

I think this is one of the widely acclaimed books on the subject: The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water

A few more points:

1. No same person would dispute the fact that both Afghan and Pakistani people have rights to the water of Kabul river. But what wisdom did the Afghan people have to involve India in this matter -- some common sense might be needed.

2. A water sharing agreement between Kabul and Pakistan would be a very difficult thing to do but should be possible -- India and Pakistan have one that has worked reasonably well given the circumstances. A strong third party like the World Bank, or China and US can act as guarantors

3. But what wisdom Afghans think there is in poking the GHQ and the Pakistani people in the eye is beyond me. In Urdu there is a saying: "Aya bayl mujhay maar"

Afghanistan is not independent. There is civil conflict raging there. NATO have bases there and not for co-operative purposes. Afghanistan's territory is being used against Pakistan like it was used in the 50's and 60's.

However why cannot Pakistanis better protect Pakistan by doing something inside of Pakistan to mitigate the impending water crisis?!