Kalabagh dam declared lifeline for future

Will improve energy situation in the country, says former LCCI official.

LAHORE:

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is running a campaign to pave way for the construction of Kalabagh Dam, which they say, is a lifeline for the country’s future. The chamber is holding seminars and discussions with experts to clear any misunderstandings impeding its materialisation.

“Poverty, hunger and darkness would be our fate if we don’t build dams to store water, which is depleting fast. Nation will not forgive people who are opposing Kalabagh Dam for their own interests,” said former LCCI vice-president Abdul Basit. “Only because of government’s silence over KBD, the country is suffering a loss of Rs132 billion annually. This amount could be saved by initiating construction of the dam.”

The dam is not only beneficial to Punjab but would also contribute to erasing poverty from Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa. It would irrigate 800000 acres of cultivable land that is located 100-150 feet above River Indus level in the province. Experts say this land could only be brought under cultivation if the river level is raised and that could only be possible with the construction of the dam. The only other alternative is to pump the water which is very costly. Pumping water for potential cultivable land would cost farmers Rs5,000 per acre annually, while canal water after the construction of the dam would cost only Rs400 a year.

Critics argue that if the dam is built, it would turn Sindh into a desert, but the experts are of the opinion that the province would get additional 4.75 million acre feet of water. Punjab would receive additional 2.04 MAF, Balochistan 1.56 MAF and K-P 2.01 MAF.

“A general consensus could not be reached as the dam issue has been much politicised. The civil society would have to play a crucial role in creating a larger consensus as new large water reservoirs would benefit every Pakistani,” said Basit.

He said that another significant aspect connected with the construction is the surety of sufficient amount of electricity at a much cheaper price. “The capacity of the dam is equal to the capacity of 750 medium dams. The country’s dependence on power generated through thermal sources is costing us a lot and we face formidable challenges in both national and international markets.  Kalabagh dam, if built, would generate 12 billion units of electricity at Rs1.54 per unit. In its absence, the shortfall is covered through electricity production at a price of Rs15 per unit. This means that the country is bearing additional burden of Rs180 billion or Rs1,000 per capita per year, he added. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2014.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.