Is Kalabagh Dam feasible?

In Sindh-Politics list, Zulfiqar Halepoto responded to one email sent by Farrah Saleh. Here we give first the email of Ms Farrah and then reply of Mr Halepoto. –Ed.

Farrah Saleh of www.cchd.org.pk wrote addressing to one, Adeel:

Dear Adeel, I was kind of surprised to read the argument you posted against Kalabagh dam. I think we are (or at least claim to be) civil society activists.

The issue here is not Punjab V/s other provinces. The issue that is being discussed by all group members is that the Kalabagh dam is technically sound enough to foster development process and cope with water-loss issues or not?

Your mail also aroused melancholic feelings. It is really sad to see that we can’t think beyond our preconceived notions and ideas.

Do you really think that the people you are talking about are true representatives of Punjab???? You just can’t impose the guilt of a few on all the community. If this is the Universal Law than there is no point discussing bias against Islam in Western media??????? If this is the ultimate truth than the terrorist group do represent Muslims in general??????

We here in Punjab also feel deprived. The people here in Punjab also suffer from the same problems that are faced by people in other provinces (poverty, [in]security, education, health, corruption, etc.). Please try and identify the root-cause.

It is all the policies of our governments that do not represent wishes of people.

It is the criminal-silence of people that has encouraged our governments to play around with us. And in spite of raising voice against all the injustices, what are we doing currently? Leveling charges against each other?

Is this the model that we want our generations to follow?

I don't believe that those who are against Kalabagh dam are anti-Pakistani or those who are favoring it are a symbol of hegemony of Punjab.

Please keep the record straight. Share technical information based on logic rather than on acquisitions.

Afifa

With Imense Regards

Farrah Parvaiz Saleh


Zulfiqar Halepoto replies:

Dear Farrah Saleh

Couple of day’s back we had Fakhar Zaman here in Hyderabad and had a long discussion on many political and other issues including Sindh Punjab relations, role of federation, concerns of small provinces and many other issues which are threatening the peoples’ integrity of the entire four provinces.

Interestingly few points are raised by you with the same concerns that who are dividing people at what cost?

Mian Nawaz Sharif was the emergence of Punjabi nationalism. He announced Kalabagh Dam (KBD) and took the decision back. But Punjabi nation did not launch a moment against Nawaz Sharif on his turnaround decision and he was not thrown out of power by the common Punjabi; in fact he was ousted by the military establishment.

We believe that lot of people in Punjab especially the enlightened people (including a great number of Siraiki Wasaib people) are in favor of the opinion that the concerns and reservations of Sindh and other small province must perceive a sound of great hearing with a statesmanship attitude. But from whom we are demanding this. A military regime that ruined the constitution and people’s mandate? In the face value the illegal regime of Musharraf is leaving the impression in Sindh that if he will not build Kalabagh Dam Punjabis will not allow him to rule further. If we believe this theory that he is doing ill-political tactics to blame Punjab for the ill-designs of military establishment, than who will make the record strait. Obviously Punjab’s people. If the people of Punjab believe that civil and military alliance is settling their scores by putting gun on the shoulder of Punjab then certainly Punjab has to clear its position.

I fully agree that accusation is not a healthy sign and will increase the gap among the people of the state but on point I want to focus here that since you are not known to the subject of water and dam politics, so you are drawing the conclusion that KBD is technically feasible.

I can send you hundreds of papers, written by the know hydrologists, water experts and dam experts, irrigation and environmental exports, who have rejected KBD not on the EMOTIONAL grounds but on very very technical and logical grounds.

I can quote few names Mr Rafi Khan (SDPI), Umer Asghar Khan (need no introduction), the chairman of technical committee on water resources Mr. A N G Abbasi, Mr. Fateh Ullah Khan (former Chairman IRSA), Late Abdul Rasool Memon (former chairman IRSA), Dr Asadullah Kazi (Vice Chancellor ISRA University) Senator Abdul Majeed Kazi and hundred of others.

KBD is not rejected by the political parties and millions of people of Sindh, but if you will look at the official stand (not taken by Arbab Rahim) but taken by the irrigation and water experts of Ministry of power and Irrigation. They have rejected KBD on very solid technical grounds.

Even if we say they all are Sindhis and Pakhtoons than please have a look on the KBD feasibility report 1983, Volume III and XIII, where KBD is considered as NONVIABLE project by the consultants, paid by the WAPDA.

I am available for any kind of assistance if you require understanding KBD on TECHNICAL ground.

Regards
Zulfiqar Halepoto
Forum for Conflict Resolution (FCR)