Since 1974 no large dam has been built in the country, though electricity demand has been increasing at 10% per year.
In a statement issued on Friday, FCCI Acting President Chaudhry Muhammad Boota expressed the hope that incoming PML-N government might focus attention on construction of large dams, including Kalabagh Dam, which would produce cheaper electricity compared to thermal power generation at the rate of about Rs18 per unit. “Construction of large dams, including Kalabagh, is inevitable,” he said.
Since 1974 no large dam has been built in the country, though electricity demand has been increasing at 10% per year, leading to acute shortage of electricity for the business, industry and general consumers.
According to Boota, every year a huge quantity of water is wasted, causing an estimated loss of Rs500 billion, which could easily be saved and prevented from flowing into the sea for consumption in the area of agriculture. “We store only 13% of the annual flow of rivers compared to 35% in India on the Sutlej Bias Basin,” he said.
The construction of large dams, besides producing inexpensive electricity, will also enhance water storage capacity to address issues pertaining to food security.
Boota suggested that along with other alternative resources, the country should also go for coal energy, taking benefit of an estimated 185 billion tons of coal reserves in Thar.
Citing examples, he said India produced 69% of electricity from coal, China 79% and US 45% compared to Pakistan where only 1% was generated from this alternative resource.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2013.
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Undoubtedly Hydroelectricity is the most efficient and cheapest source of electricity. Complete Detailed Engineering & Designs of so many proposed dams are lying in the cabinets of Wapda's management but nothing is being implemented on ground. I consider Wapda to be more responsible for the current shortfall. Had they materialized these projects instead of just enjoying perks (including residences, free electricity), we would have been living a different life.
@author but we are systematically migrating towards Nuclear energy, why not to mention that coal have a big carbon footprint
Since 1974 no large dam has been built in the country though electricity demand has been increasing at 10% per year 39-long years without any new dam! wah ji wah! with population around 230- millions more or less including northren areas Kashmir Fata Pata etc! a Crime against peoples of Pakistan okey we can say pakistans's english elts are agents of cia mi5 but the pb is no power no work no freshAir no factory turning not enough drinking water no progress and always terror or blaming talibans like at home if something is wrong we men say is fault of ladies! the welcome signal has been giving to Mr Nawaz Sharif by the Drone attack on pakistan's frontiers province Kp with many Pakistanis Muslim killings
Sindhi feudals will always propogate against the DAMs so that Sindhi grower may never excel and will always be under the feet of Waderas. DAM is the recipe of prosperity and progress for the developed and developing countries but here illiterate public has been brain washed. Storage capacity of 90 days can give Pakistan extreme economic and strategic power but currently we have just 13 days capacity. While India has 125, China 325 days, USA 175 days this is just an over view to let people how far we are behind.
Need honest willingness to do good for the country.