LAHORE – Former WAPDA chairman Engineer Shamsul Mulk says Pakistan’s economy has been facing a Rs132 billion annual loss due to inordinate delay in execution of Kalabagh Dam (KBD) project.Addressing a ‘Grand Debate of KBD’ at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Monday, the Khyber PK former chief minister added that if KBD was constructed, the Rs132 billion paid by consumers countrywide in terms of costly electricity generation could have been saved. Engineer Shamsul Mulk was of the view that the reluctance of rulers in building KBD would bring adverse effects on the federation of Pakistan.“Agriculture farmers of Khyber-PK would have to pay Rs5000 per acre aabyana (agriculture tax) for watering their lands against Rs500 by the farmers of the other parts of the country if the KBD would not be constructed,” he held. LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, Vice-chairman Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) Dr Miftah Ismail, WAPDA former chairman Tariq Hameed, Pakistan Engineers Forum’s Ghalib Atta, LCCI Senior Vice-President Kashif Younis Meher, former provincial minister Mumtaz Khan Manais, Salman Najib and LCCI former senior vice-president Engineer Sohail Lashari also spoke on the occasion. Speakers were unanimous in saying that all those who were opposing the KBD were enemies of the country and were playing with the country’s future. They urged the government for early construction of the project and said that the dam was inevitable for survival of Pakistan. “If the government fails to take any practical steps in the construction of KBD, poverty and hunger will be the endless fate which may lead the country to irrecoverable disaster,” they held in one voice.Shamsul Mulk, the chief guest of the programme, said that there was no threat to Nowshehra city in construction of KBD as it was 150 feet above the water level. Eminent engineer added that it was very unfortunate that the decision markers had nothing to lose rather they continued to enjoy all perks under the sky and even if they made wrong decisions, these were the masses who suffered. Shamsul Mulk said that Kalabagh Dam was not only beneficial to Punjab alone but it would be more helpful in erasing poverty from Khyber-PK. The dam would irrigate 800,000 acres of cultivable land in Khyber-PK that was located 100-150 feet above the Indus river level in the province, he said, adding the land could only be brought under cultivation if the river level was raised. The rising of river was only possible if Kalabagh Dam was built, he argued. The KPK former CM was of the view that the politicians who were opposing the construction of the dam were in fact enemies of the people of the KP province and they did not even saw a dam in their lives. “Kalabagh Dam issue has been so much politicised and the delay in construction of dam is a part of a great game against the country. Some political parties are manipulating the issue for their advantage,” he regretted. He asked the civil society to play a crucial role in creating a larger consensus as new large water reservoirs would benefit every Pakistani. LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that a further delay in gathering a consensus from all stakeholders on the construction of unduly politicised Kalabagh Dam would cost the country and its coming generations very dearly. He said that all the stakeholders should show some greater maturity on the issue of Kalabagh. It was the high time that all undue stands should be brushed aside to save the country from that era of darkness. He said that unlike Pakistan, India was constructing dams at every possible site. Irfan Qaiser said that every one knew that the existing dams were constantly silting up leaving ever decreasing capacity to store water. The construction of KBD along with other new dams was desperately needed to store adequate water, he added. More importantly, he said, as a result of melting of glaciers due to global warming, the sword remained hanging over our heads in the shape of floods. An opinion gained widespread support across the country that the losses of recent floods in Pakistan which were estimated to be more than 45 billion dollars could have been reduced if big dams and water reservoirs were in place, he held. Electricity generation through thermal sources is estimated to cost almost Rs.16 per unit whereas the same can be produced at Rs.2.5 to Rs.3 through Hydel, he said and urged the Punjab Assembly — which he said so far had neither passed any resolution in favour of KBD nor against it — to pass a resolution if favour of KBD constructing. He said if the government failed to take any practical step in constructing water reservoirs, poverty, hunger and war would be the endless fate that might lead Pakistan to a disaster.A joint resolution for early construction of KBD in larger interests of the country and its people was passed unanimously at the end of the debate.
No comments:
Post a Comment