PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The longstanding debate over construction of controversial Kalabagh Dam (KBD) once again raged in the National Assembly on Tuesday as MPs from treasury benches vowed to develop consensus on the project while opposition lawmakers opposed the idea, terming it a dead issue.
Speaking on the floor of the house on shortage of water in Sindh, PPP’s Nawab Yousaf Talpur said Wapda under an agreement of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) was bound to store two feet of water in the Tarbela Dam once it reaches 1,530-foot level.
However, he said, instead of storing two feet water in the dam, Wapda is storing one foot only which is against the agreement. “The people of Sindh will not accept the KBD at any cost. Basha Dam should be constructed under the CPEC as a water reservoir,” he said.
Kalabagh dam declared lifeline for future
His remarks in the house triggered a heated debate between the treasury and opposition benches over an already controversial issue.
Minister for Water Resources Javed Ali Shah was the first to respond from the government side. “Let’s develop consensus on the KBD. Either convince us or be convinced. Why it is so that sometimes you become national and sometimes you become nationalists”.
He said the KBD would be constructed if they successfully convince the opposition. He said he was against rejecting the project on the basis of mere bias. “Once consensus is reached, the issue will not be allowed to be politicized,” he added.
PPP’s Shagufta Jumani strongly reacted to the minister’s remarks and said his words had hurt them. She said the matter of KBD was a dead issue but attempts were being made to resurrect it.
She said three provincial assemblies – Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan – had unanimously rejected the project. ANP’s Haji Ghulam Bilour seconded the PPP lawmakers, saying there was no reason to accept the KBD.
Divisive project: ‘Kalabagh dam need-of-the-hour’
Former National Assembly speaker Fehmida Mirza demanded a briefing on the controversial Kishanganga Dam. She was of the view that parliament should be informed as to how Pakistan is pursuing the issue on international forums.
Rana Muhammad Hayat of the PML-N said consensus should be developed over the KBD as it is ‘the life of Pakistan’. Ghulam Sarwar Awan of PTI said the PML-N is in power both at the Centre and in Punjab and therefore it should develop consensus on such issues and go ahead with construction of dams.
Another PML-N lawmaker Parveen Masood Bhatti said, “Alleging Punjab that it will consume the water of other provinces is a biased view as it is Punjab which wants to live with smaller units of the country in harmony. The KBD should be constructed for the betterment of the country.”
Don’t turn it into another Kalabagh
PPP’s Ayaz Soomro said the KBD might only be constructed over dead bodies of the people of Sindh. He said it was not appropriate to initiate debate on the ‘dirty issue’.
Private members bills
The National Assembly also referred six private members’ bills to relevant standing committees following their first reading in the house. Three bills were not granted leave for introduction on Tuesday. The reports of standing committees on different legislations were also presented.
Earlier, the house resumed its session in the morning with Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi in the chair and it transacted the private members' business.
National Accountability Commission
Minister for Law Zahid Hamid told the house that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) would be converted into the National Accountability Commission.
“A parliamentary committee is giving final touches to the bill in this regard,” he said, adding that Sindh government could not repeal the federal accountability law.
He said legislation is also on the cards to introduce amendments in Article 184(3) of the Constitution in order to include the provision of appeal in it.
On a point of order, MQM’s Shaik Salahuddin said small centres of NADRA have been closed in Karachi and this step is creating issues for the general public at large.
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