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Kalabagh Dam - Damn anti-Dam Lobbies

MarkTheTruth

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The simple logic is that those who do not want dams like Kalabagh to be built, they are enemies of the country or at least don’t want Pakistan to have vibrant economy and social peace. The forces and lobbies that opposed Pakistan and those that are stuck up in their narrow grooves of provincialism would not like Pakistan to become an economically viable country. The weak economy foments societal discontent and poltical instability. That is the spectacle that patriotic Pakistanis have been witnessing since the inception of Pakistan.

The Kalabagh Dam has been made so much controversial that no one wants even to broach the subject of this dam that is so vital for irrigation and energy in Pakistan. The Kalabagh Dam seems to have been abandoned for fear of uproarious hullabaloo from the regional forces that in fact were never in favor of a stable and prosperous Pakistan. Hence the power shortage mayhem and the resultant chaos in the society due to tormenting blackouts and long power outrages.

The dam or similar projects that are so vital and imperative for a developing country like Pakistan have fallen prey to the petty and narrow politicking in that the parochial or regional sentiments is whipped with an implied message of breakup of Pakistan. ANP has played the NWFP card so deftly and stunningly that despite expenditure of several billion rupees since the conception of this project, the actual construction has remained elusive. The respective governments due to weak political standing or for reasons of political repercussions could not press for the launching of this most sought-after project that if built by now, would have changed the economic complexion of Pakistan with less power breakdowns and more industrial and agricultural boom.

If the PPP government has brokered an agreement for the change of the title of the NWFP province it should have also sought the consent of the ANP to concede to the unpardonably stalled construction of Kalabagh Dam. There are Pashtun experts who vociferously advocate the need of Kalabagh Dam arguing that all arguments and apprehensions to the contrary were politically motivated by the forces that inherently don’t want Pakistan to be economically robust and viable. The off- repeated propaganda that it would benefit Punjab more and that the vast land of Nowshera would submerge in the dam area are **** and bull stories and mere sham tactics to create paranoid against the Kalabagh Dam. After all Tarbela too at the outset was subjected to such unfounded and concocted gossips but now it is evident that it did not harm even a blade of grass. What would have been the energy situation if there had been no Tarbela dam: one simply shudders to imagine.

Former president Pervez Musharraf had been shouting at the top of his voice and professing to build dams and make Pakistan self sufficient in electricity. But once he has gone either the projects started by him have been halted or else he was simply hoodwinking or bullshitting the people of Pakistan. He was in a much stronger position to go ahead with the construction of Kalabagh Dam, that if built would be like a life line for the economy and animated social life in Pakistan. This is a sad saga of missed opportunities and the vital nation building projects were sacrificed at the altar of political bargaining and for the base motives of holding on to power with the help of the regional forces.

Being a lower riparian Pakistan is in a grossly disadvantaged position vis a vis India. As all the rivers emanate from Kashmir and northern glaciers that are mostly under the occupation of India, Pakistan is entirely at the mercy of India for water share. The Indus Basin Treaty (1960) was a trap that deprived Pakistan of the three rivers, Sutlej, Ravi and Bias. Pakistan was given exclusive use of water from three rivers namely Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. But if that was the end of the issue of sharing water then it could have still brought a good portion of water to Pakistan.

But Indus Basin Treaty is being wantonly violated by India. It is building 22 dams on the rivers apportioned to Pakistan under the IBT. This is so because all these rivers pass through the Indian territory before entering Pakistan. India is therefore, controlling on the jugular water sources. With the completion of those dams the water that would flow into Pakistan would be reduced to minimum and only that water would deposit in the rivers that comes from rain or the snow mountain peaks situated on the Pakistani side. Until all the Indian dams or the presently under construction would be filled with water which might take years, Pakistan would turn into arid land. Just think about the horrendous consequences.

While Pakistan can continue pressing for its due share of water under the Indus Basin Treaty, it should, as well, look for other sources for water. The shortfall of water and electricity is going to be hugely alarming in Pakistan if alternate sources are not found. The thermal, the nuclear, the solar, the wind and the coal fueled power plants are absolutely indispensible if Pakistan does not want to join the impoverished and water scarce countries of Africa. In this highly abysmal water and power situation, the regional political elements and those sitting at the center must come up with a definitive decision of not only starting the construction of Kalabagh Dam but a host of other small or big dams also, so that the acute shortage of water and power that would overtake Pakistan in the coming years can be preempted and arrested before it starts spelling disaster for the country.

Kalabagh Dam - Damn anti-Dam Lobbies
 
India is doing the same thing that you want to do in Punjab
Both Sindh and NWFP have objections against Kalabagh dam so forget it
 
it's very easy to Blind Illiterate Masses for Political Gains.

I am starting to wonder the truth of Pakistani Claims of India Stealing Water.

I mean we are facing so severe Power Shortages that it has Paralyzed life i mean after 3 hours 1 hour power cut.

And still we are debating the merits of Building Dams.
 
Akher PM ko Aqal agae

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THE STATESMAN, PESHAWAR
Sunday, 14-08-2010

PM’s irresponsible statement

Almost every Pakistani was shocked to see the statement of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani issued in Multan recently about his desire to build controversial Kalabagh dam (KBD) on the basis of current super flood in Pakistan which has made unprecedented losses in 80 years.

I strongly support contention of Munawar Hassan, Islamabad. Please allow me to re-produce his letter printed in section of press (August 12, entitled: “Floods and Kalabagh dam”) which is worthy to read:

Quote: I can recall Prime Minister (PM) Gilani’s first speech in parliament, when he categorically rejected the construction of the Kalabagh Dam. Later, it was observed that he appeared very political about the subject. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also refused to reject the scheme. Now PM Gilani has come up with an even more surprising stance that the destruction caused by the floods could have been averted had the dam been in place. It is baffling to see that the PM thinks that the amount of floodwater is just six million acre feet (MAF), which is the capacity of the Kalabagh Dam.

The volume of floodwater runs up to 1.2 million cusecs (more than 100 MAF). What does PM Gilani propose for the rest of the 94 MAF of water? Moreover, the disaster would have aggravated if the water had flown upstream due to the dam on the Indus River. In addition, to collect water from a flood (which is a rare occurrence in Pakistan), the country’s leadership is prepared to destroy the Indus delta permanently. I humbly request the PM to avoid making such statements in public that perplex the people rather than giving them courage to face the calamity. MUNAWAR HASSAN, Islamabad Unquoted.

In view of above letter, I think efforts by pro-KBD lobby to prove people of three out of four provinces viz. Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as unpatriotic and anti-Pakistan must be abandoned by now.

MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL,
Karachi.
 
THE FRONTIER POST
Saturday, August 14, 2010

If Indus delta were in Punjab!

Mohammad Khan Sial, Karachi

Indus delta is facing untimely sad demise due to non-release of fresh water downstream Kotri despite at least 10 MAF release of water guaranteed in “Water Accord - 1991” but after passing 19 years, the Accord was neither implementation nor hope to do so in future as Punjab is against its implementation.

The ruination of Indus delta has resulted in formidable environment hazards, mass migration of one million people, tremendous increase in unemployment and poverty, dangerous sea intrusion inundating 2.6 million acres of land and danger of razing historical city Thatta and also Badin in next 20 years as per briefing by Sindh government besides destruction of eco-system and much more. It is may honest and candid view: “If Indus delta were in Punjab instead of Sindh, our beloved Prime Minister Gilani and beloved President Asif Al Zardari and also previous beloved rulers would have not let it die unnatural death.”
...........
 
Why Punjab’s flood canals closed?

The people of Sindh are unable to understand why Punjab’s flood (link) canals are closed during the current devastating flood as the said canals were exclusively made to flow the excess water of flood?

Record shows when there was severe scarcity of water in Sindh, Punjab got opened the flood canals unilaterally. Nevertheless, when there is a heavy flood currently, the canals are closed. Does this action not show the hypocrisy of Punjab?

Mohammad Khan Sial,
Karachi
 
PAKISTAN OBSERVER
August 12, 2010

PM’s statement
Mohammad Khan Sial
I have seen Prime Minister Gillani’s statement in local and foreign media. In Multan prime minister Gillani has claimed: “Had Kalabagh dam existed, it would have saved us from havoc of floods.” Obviously, Prime Minister has joined other political leaders like Chaudhry Shujaat (PML-Q), Punjab’s Governor Salman Taseer and others without considering the ground facts.

As per Irrigation experts, dams like Kalabagh are not meant to save flood water due to technical reasons. Mr Idress Rajput, ex-Secretary Sindh Irrigation Department in his recently published article has stated that dams have “nominal capacity” to collect flood water and further, dams are fulfilled in Pakistan before summer rains. PM has given impression that only Kalabagh dam could have saved flood havoc in Pakistan giving wrong impression that KBD is “Amrat-Dhaara”. This is wrong and it is tantamount to add salt to the injuries of Sindhis, Baloch and Pakhtuns as their three out of four Assemblies have passed about 10 Resolutions against controversial Kalabagh dam.

If Prime Minister is so worried about Pakistan, he should have ordered to save Indus delta - sixth largest in the world resulting in mass migration as well as tremendous increase in unemployment and also implementation of water Accord - 1991, release of 10 MAF downstream Kotri. This year super flood has come after 34 years and it was not possible for Kalabagh dam to absorb all water of the flood otherwise. If it was so why super floods come in USA, Europe, Far Eastern countries inundating vast areas despite having dams?

—Karachi
 
DAILY TIMES, August 12, 2010

Floods and Kalabagh Dam

Sir: I can recall Prime Minister (PM) Gilani’s first speech in parliament, when he categorically rejected the construction of the Kalabagh Dam. Later, it was observed that he appeared very political about the subject. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also refused to reject the scheme. Now PM Gilani has come up with an even more surprising stance that the destruction caused by the floods could have been averted had the dam been in place. It is baffling to see that the PM thinks that the amount of floodwater is just six million acre feet (MAF), which is the capacity of the Kalabagh Dam. The volume of floodwater runs up to 1.2 million cusecs (more than 100 MAF). What does PM Gilani propose for the rest of the 94 MAF of water? Moreover, the disaster would have aggravated if the water had flown upstream due to the dam on the Indus River. In addition, to collect water from a flood (which is a rare occurrence in Pakistan), the country’s leadership is prepared to destroy the Indus delta permanently. I humbly request the PM to avoid making such statements in public that perplex the people rather than giving them courage to face the calamity.

MUNAWAR HASSAN
Islamabad
 
Why Punjab’s flood canals closed?

The people of Sindh are unable to understand why Punjab’s flood (link) canals are closed during the current devastating flood as the said canals were exclusively made to flow the excess water of flood?

Record shows when there was severe scarcity of water in Sindh, Punjab got opened the flood canals unilaterally. Nevertheless, when there is a heavy flood currently, the canals are closed. Does this action not show the hypocrisy of Punjab?

Just the same issues was aired a month before flood, Punjab was asking to open these canals because water was higher than usual and punjab needed more water without disturbing any water supply to sindh but then Sindh government raised issues again that punjab is stealing water, resulting in closure of these canals. And then the flood came.

So here now have your water!!! As much as i heard those canals along with the major part of the network are also destroyed by floods and nothing can be done now !!

Does this action not show the hypocrisy of Punjab?

Hypocrisy of Punjab or Sindh gov !!! Its stupid that even in such times sindh gov was blaming punjab!! Punjab can blame KheibarPakhtunkhua, that they should have stopped all the water and saved Punjab from disaster!!

Open your eyes dude, its all the Pakistan flooded!! including Punjab, Sindh is the last one to get affected!!
 
THE STATESMAN, PESHAWAR
Sunday, 14-08-2010

PM’s irresponsible statement

Almost every Pakistani was shocked to see the statement of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani issued in Multan recently about his desire to build controversial Kalabagh dam (KBD) on the basis of current super flood in Pakistan which has made unprecedented losses in 80 years.

I strongly support contention of Munawar Hassan, Islamabad. Please allow me to re-produce his letter printed in section of press (August 12, entitled: “Floods and Kalabagh dam”) which is worthy to read:

Quote: I can recall Prime Minister (PM) Gilani’s first speech in parliament, when he categorically rejected the construction of the Kalabagh Dam. Later, it was observed that he appeared very political about the subject. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also refused to reject the scheme. Now PM Gilani has come up with an even more surprising stance that the destruction caused by the floods could have been averted had the dam been in place. It is baffling to see that the PM thinks that the amount of floodwater is just six million acre feet (MAF), which is the capacity of the Kalabagh Dam.

The volume of floodwater runs up to 1.2 million cusecs (more than 100 MAF). What does PM Gilani propose for the rest of the 94 MAF of water[B][/B]? Moreover, the disaster would have aggravated if the water had flown upstream due to the dam on the Indus River. In addition, to collect water from a flood (which is a rare occurrence in Pakistan), the country’s leadership is prepared to destroy the Indus delta permanently. I humbly request the PM to avoid making such statements in public that perplex the people rather than giving them courage to face the calamity. MUNAWAR HASSAN, Islamabad Unquoted.

In view of above letter, I think efforts by pro-KBD lobby to prove people of three out of four provinces viz. Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as unpatriotic and anti-Pakistan must be abandoned by now.

MOHAMMAD KHAN SIAL,
Karachi.

Capacity of Kalabagh is 6 MAF , current flood water which is causing davestation is not more than 2.4MAF or 1.2 Million Cusecs .

The storage capacity of Terbela Dam is 7 MAF , so both Dams can store more than 13 MAF .

1 Cusecs = 2 AF

Please do little research before making any statement.

http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2216/BAE-1501web.pdf
 
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Sind Provice is against all the dams. They even criticize Mangla and Terbela. Main reason being due to dams, the legend Mighty Indus River loses it's original strength and it almost dries. But they may not have any answer to periodical flood situations. Actually Indus loses it's strength not because dams but because India divided in 1947 and then Indus Basin Treaty gave exclusive rights of three big tributaries of Indus to India. Southern Punjab sufferred immediately.

Pakistan was compansated by the financing of two major Dams and a big big canal network.
 
Feasibility study of another major Dam named Bunji Dam is currently going on. This Dam will have 2x power generation facility than Terbela Dam. Means it will be the largest dam in Pakistan in terms of Power generation capacity. It's location is at point where Scerdu Road starts from Korakoram Highway near Gilgit. It's location suggests that this can only be a run of the river Dam like Balgihar Dam of India (on Chenab) which shall be used for only power generation and NO canal shall be built.
 
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