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Emporium Current Essays233wIk mmm*mm*The past and present situation regarding the Kalabagh Dam resembles a quotation of Charles Dickens in The Tale of Two Cities. It goes as:-"It was the best of times, it was he worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was theage of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was theseasori of light, it was the season of darkness, we had everything before us, we hadnothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way -- in short, the period was so far like the present period that some of its noisiestauthorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in its superlative degree of comparison only."The differences are not totally irreconcilable and with a policy of give and take, aconsensus can be achieved to the benefit of all the provinces. The dam after itsconstruction can balance the shortages of lower riparians, the commodity being electricitywhich can help reduce the level of sub-soil water and its use for agriculture besidesensuring water in the days of extreme shortage especially in Sindh. The need of the hour is to put heads together and decide its fate as early as possible.The project has become so controversial that no firm decision could be taken during thelast two decades. There are various consultants' reports and papers presented in seminarsand symposia which are not ordinarily available to general public amongst whom somemay feel interested to know of the pros and cons of this important issue. When thequestion of referendum is also raised to decide the issue, it is all the ore necessary thatinformation on the project and the views of experts are widely publicised. ' •Kalabagh Dam is perhaps the only project which has beenopposed by Sindh and NWFP provinces. There was no suchopposition against other two large dam - Mangla and Tarbela -, also constructed across the Indus River system. If dams areI constructed to reduce irrigation supplies and create environmental234
 
Emporium Current Essays problems, they may have the same effect is alleged against Kalabagh Danr. We have toruminate as to what we are doing to an agreed Water Apportionment Accord andgradually reducing shortages due to sedimentation.How we are going to provide 6.1 million acre feet (MAP) of irrigation supplies withoutKalabagh Dam by the year 2000, Should we leave our next generation in the 21st centurywithout food and power simply because our present interests are falsely assumed to be jeopardised. The apprehensions of the provinces do not seem to be based on cogentreasons which may hold an important national project. There is a need to create publicopinion in support of the project in the greater interest of the nation. It should not bemade a political duel in the large national interest.According to WAPDA reports, Sindh has the following apprehensions with regard toconstruction of Kalabagh Dam?-(1) Effect on Silaba cultivation ,(2) Sea water intrusion in the Indus estuary.(3) Impact on mangrove forest, fisheries an drinking water.(4) High level outlets.(5) Sindh will be converted into a desert.(6) Water availability for filling of the reservoir.• A major issue raised~by the Sindh province is its conversion into a desert as a result of construction of the Kalabagh Dam. Here a question arises whether Mangla and TarbeleDams had any effect on irrigation supplies to any province. In fact, they increasedsupplies when there used to be shortage prior to their construction. Kalabagh Dam willsupply 3.00 MAF under the Water Apportionment Accord and an additional 3.1 MAF will be distributed among the provinces, thus increasing the volume of irrigation supplies toSindh for both Kharif and Rabi season. Therefore, fears of Sindh have no relationshipwith the facts of the matter. The apprehensions of Sindh are, therefore, not based ontechnical grounds.Kalabagh Dam Project is the^only viable way for Pakistan to attain the status of adeveloped country in the 21st century and the only option available to the nation is tosalvage it sovereignty and honour amongst other nations. Kalabagh dam is not an issue of ethnic losses or provincial gains; it is a question of Pakistan's survival and future. And itsanswer lies with the people and political leadership of the country.
 
, Emporium Current Essays 235>From the early 1980s onwards, reach government has tried to highlight the need for commencing construction of Kalabagh Dam. And yet each government has failed toevolve a political consensus whereby the objections of the provinces whereby theobjections of the provinces regarding this project are resolved. Whether it was adictatorship or a democracy, no government has succeeded in getting such a consensus.One can safely say that opposition to Kalabagh Dam is almost, by now, considered &vital policy plan for any Opposition. Mr. Bhuilo, for instance, opposed construction of Kalabagh Dam when she was not in power but decided to endorse the project once shewas elected. This reversal can be taken as an indication that while the ruling elite does seethe benefits associated with construction of the dam ia terms -of electricity generationand increasing the irrigation water available yet, when it becomes part of the Opposition,the project is disapproved for the simple reason that anyone associated with constructionof the dam will be long remembered for achieving development, something which no party would willingly accede to another. Significantly, former Prime Minister NawazSharif has consistently endowed the Kalabagh Project, both being In power and inOppositioti. Indubitably, he coulti not succeed to form a consensus and construction of the dam went OH delaying.It is significant to note that current levels of power shortages are costing the economyaround 12 bilHon rupees per annum. According to Economic Survey 1993-94, thedemand ibr energy is growing at 12 per cent per annum while supply has grown by 7 per cent per annum. It is generally acknowledged that Kulabagh Dam alone can take up *he past slack in supply as well as be able to meet the future growth in demand.Fie to mention that 42 years have elapsed since 1953. when the original design of Kalabagh Dam was conceived and huge sums of money have been squandered,construction of Kalabagh Dam is till in the lurch. Till 1994, an amount of Rs. 100 crorehas been drained to chalk out policies and reach crucial decision in connection withconstruction of Kalabagh Darn.Some so-called critics of Kalabagh Darn Projec* gratuitously harangue and blatantlyfabricate tales with regard to construction of the dam.To tfjcm, a recent earthquake in Maharshtra, Bharat, hitherto considered as a geologicallystable region, should have been an eye-opener for the advocates of the Kalabagh DanxThe Koyna Dam near Khilari may have been a contributory factor. The Narmada Dam inCentra! Bharat and the proposed dams in Nepal238Emporium Current Essayscreated. In short, at no stage should the Opposition allow the government to act arbitrarilyor despotically.
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