Minister shuts down Kalabagh dam talk
On January 9, 2015, a bench headed by former chief justice Nasirul Mulk, dismissed identical petitions for the construction of Kalabagh dam, observing that it was responsibility of the government to convene a meeting of Council of Common Interests to resolve the issue. PHOTO: FILE
A senior Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government minister has declared Kalabagh dam a disputed project, saying it had already been rejected by three provinces on technical and political grounds.
Without solving these differences no headway is possible because it will only incite disputes.
K-P Minister for Irrigation Arshad Ayub Khan said this while addressing a press conference in Peshawar on Wednesday along with Special Assistant to CM on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif.
The press talk was meant to shed light on progress on ongoing projects of irrigation in the merged districts.
He said that the Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) design phase will be completed by March this year and its construction will be started from next fiscal year for which 65 per cent funding will be provided by K-P while the rest of the money will come from the federal government.
The minister informed reporters that work is underway on 59 projects of Irrigation Department in the merged districts with an estimated cost of Rs44 billion, adding that historic steps were taken after the amalgamation of the former FATA into K-P.
He said that a separate wing of the Chief Engineer Merged Districts has been set up while the offices of the executive engineers have been set up in each district. Besides, district offices have been established to provide services to the people at their doorsteps.
Former FDA Small Dam Section has been linked with Planning Director General Small Dams.
Talking on the occasion, Special Assistant to CM on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said that development of integrated districts is a top priority. K-P and Punjab are contributing to the NFC for the merged districts.
“Under the leadership of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, integrated districts are on the path of development. There is no shortage of funds for development of integrated districts. Dams are being constructed to ensure preservation and best use of water,” he maintained.
The irrigation minister said that a significant portion of NFC has been allocated for development of integrated districts. Completion of development works in the merged districts will bring positive change in people’s lives.
In terms of development, 35 schemes worth Rs9 billion were launched under ADP, while 24 projects worth Rs35 billion were launched under AIP including Jabba Dam worth Rs10 billion which will provide clean drinking water to one million people of Peshawar and Khyber, while the dam will have a storage capacity of 37,982 acre feet and will protect the Khyber Valley from floods.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2022.