THE PROBLEM OF WATER MANAGEMENT IN DIVERSE

SOCIETIES: QUEST OF DAM ON INDUS RIVER

IZZATANVEER, KOMAL ZAHRA
BAHRIA UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD CAMPUS,PAKISTAN
EMAIL:izzatanveer82@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Water is requirement of life and a backing force of socioeconomic development. Due to
some human interference in natural activities, the global environment is changing rapidly.
Resultantly, water resources are on the verge of diminution. The case of Pakistan is much
alarming as it is an agricultural country depending upon canal water. Any shortage of
water will nearly de-functionalize the canal system of Pakistan. Some experts claim that
may become dry by 2025. From the economic point of view, the agriculture portion in
Pakistan`s total economy is 21% in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and above 45% to the
labor force. Kalabagh dam can be fruitful in these circumstances because it will generate
3600 Mega Watt (MW) electricity and will store 6.1 Million Acre Feet (MAF) water.
After discussing the water crises in Pakistan this paper is analyzing the role of KBD as a
remedy to water scarcity, electricity shortfall as well as the politics of water.
KEYWORDS: Kababagh dam, water scarcity, agriculture, Water Management,
Pakistan

INTRODUCTION:
Water is indispensable for the sustainment of life on earth. It is lifeline for all the earthly
activity and is driving force of the nature. Although this most needed natural resource is
found in abundance on the earth, its distribution is quite uneven. It covers around 70% of
earth`s surface, out of which only a partly 3% is believed to the fresh water that is fit for
human consumption while the remaining 97% water is highly-saline, thus, unsuitable for
crop production or human use. This precious resource is fast shrinking on account of
multitude of factors, such as swelling population ending up in the awkward mess of
increasing demand and decreasing supply, expansion of irrigation, silting of water
reservoirs, over exploitation of ground water, use of western rivers water by India,
industrialization, urbanization, wasteful use of climatic change. Essentially an agricultural
economy, Pakistan`s survival depends largely on agriculture that requires huge amount of
water. The agriculture sector account for about 24% of GDP, while supporting 70% of
our country`s rural population. Besides, it employs 48.4% of country`s total workforce.
There are three principal sources of water: (1) rivers, (2) rainfall (3) and underground
water. Pakistan has world largest contiguous irrigation system. The Indus river, along
with its tributaries, constitutes the major source of water flow to Pakistan.Water scarcity
has also exacerbated tensions with India. The water dispute between Pakistan and India
dates back to the early days of independence. There have been attempts to settle the
dispute, through the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in 1960. However, incremental
confidence-building measures could be put in place to improve the situation.

The government`s strategy has been of augmenting country`s water shortage capacity by
means of the construction of large dams so as to tackle the imminent water crises. The
reservoirs would also come in use in the generation of hydroelectricity to meet the
exigency of power shortages and also in controlling the floods. Kalabagh, the subject of a
widespread controversy, has been proposed to be built at Kalabagh in Mianwali district
on the borders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The claimed storage capacity of dam
is said to be 7.6 million acre-feet (MAF). The cost is estimated at USD 7 to 17 billion.
The project, which is expected to employ 35000 people, will also be generating 3600
megawatts of electricity.

BACKGROUND:

Plans to build the Kalabagh dam on the Indus River has been the source of tensions
between regional provinces in Pakistan for more than thirty years. In downstream Sindh
province, politicians have described the dam as a “water theft” by the province of Punjab,
where the dam is planned to be built. Furthermore, construction of water infrastructure in
Punjab has been a source of recurring protests in Sindh. There is also opposition to the
dam`s construction from the upper riparian province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). As
the border between Punjab and KP lies directly north of Kalabagh much of the water
catchment is situated in the latter, which means KhayberPakhtunkhuwa risk losing a large
area of agricultural land to flooding from the dam`s construction. In absence of detailed
benefit sharing plans between regional states, politicians fear that proper compensation
will not be paid. The project was suspended in 2008. However, planning re-opened in
2012 and the project currently awaits assessment from the ministry of water resources.
Concerns over the potential negative impacts of the dam have led to renewed protests in
Sindh.
Problems And Issues:
KBD Project was planned in 1984, with the participation of the UNDP administered by
the World Bank (WB), for the client, Water And Power Development Authority
(WAPDA) of Pakistan. The UNDP project document for the agreement defines the
development objectives of the Kalabagh dam project as follows:
“To accelerate the tempo of economic development and increase the growth rate in
Pakistan for supporting the fast growing population and raising their standard of living, it
is necessary to realize the full hydropower and agricultural potential of available water
resources and to regulate the flood peaks of the River Indus. The proposed Kalabagh Dam
is an important step towards achieving these objectives”
Objections on KBD
On the construction of KBD, various complaints have been expressed by KPK and Sindh
provinces. Main objections by these two provinces are as follows.
Objections by KPK
Below are the main objections of KPK on the construction of KBD.
(1) With the construction of KBD, Nowshehra will get flooded.
(2) Swabi, Mardan and Pibi scarp will be water logged.
(3) Many people of KPK will be displaced.
Objections by Sindh
Below are the main objections of Sindh on KBD:
(1) Construction of Kalabagh Dam will convert Sindh into desert because of non
availability of water.
(2) The land of lower Sindh will be affected by the intrusion of salt from sea.

The other issues are the financial issues related with the building of Kalabagh dam. There
is a very tiny possibility of our government in getting financial aid from international
organizations. Most probably the dam will only increases are countries debts. However, if
private infrastructure funds are attracted to finance the Kalabagh dam at a high return
rate, it is uncertain that the project will still stay fiscally and cost-effectively feasible.

The crop yield increasing that has been projected is only in the case when water logging
and salinity is put out of the consideration. Hydel energy is really expensive which adds
to the environmental costs. Many ecosystems that live in the mangrove forests and are
relying on the Indus River would be degraded.

Some of the reasons for this opposition are that there is no evidence given to the opposing
parties about the costs of hydro power as compared to other sources which provide
energy. Other than this, there is a deficiency of organized assessment of the cost of
Kalabagh water and the costs of substitute ways of increasing deliverance of water used
in the irrigation system and at the same time dropping the wastage in the use of irrigation
used water.
Why Is Kalabagh Dam Not Feasible:
The federal government`s announcement of building Kalabagh dam undergoes fears of
domination by Punjab province over provinces and this has serious repercussion for the
federation whileWAPDA bases it support for Kalabagh dam on water availability figures
which are highly suspect if not outright incorrect. There may not be enough water to fill
the Kalabagh reservoir in whichWater availability notwithstanding, there is evidence to
prove that additional land for substantive increases in food production in cultivable areas
is not available and higher water retention in the Indus basin system risks aggravating an
already massive problem of water logging and salinity.

Taxation not only pays for public goods and services; it is also a key ingredient in
the social contract between citizens and the economy. Avoidance of taxationdue to
occurrence of conflict in provinces for the kalabagh was also hurdle in decision making
process. Also, the massive expenditure incurred during rehabilitation of affecters will
result in kalabagh being economically unattractive due to which Kalabagh will result in
coastal ecosystem degradation, adding to mangrove and species loss and impoverishing
communities which rely on the ecosystem`s resources. And D-silting Terbella seems to be
more economically, socially and environmentally viable.
 Graph Showing Water Status of Pakistan
In the 90s, Pakistan became a water stressed nation. Around 2005, it became water scarce.
After 2025, it will enter the absolute water scarcity zone. It will also enter the realm
of perpetual failure. The situation is scary.
WEAKNESSES OF RESOLUTION EFFORTS:
The idea of Kalabagh dam as a project to address water scarcity (i.e. increasing water
storage) has not been successfully disseminated to alleviate fears of unequal allocations of
water, benefits the risks that could potentially arise from the project. Sindhi politicians
have argued that the central government did not take the water needs of Sindh into
account when the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was signed in 1960, or in subsequent water
infrastructure projects. Their claim is that it left the downstream region in a state of
structural water scarcity rather than the whole nation facing absolute water scarcity. The
Pakistani government has not provided an assessment of how the Kalabagh dam will
impact Sindh`s social and ecological systems. As the Indus water treaty may need to be
renegotiated, this could provide an opportunity to better align sub national concerns.
However, if democracy between India and Pakistan breaks down, it is likely that Sindh
will become more vulnerable to the upstream developments of both Punjab and India.

CONCLUSIONAND RECOMMENDATIONS:

It is a fact that large dams prove useful in the economics of the developed countries.
Dams only stores water which is used according to the requirements. They do not
consume water. Due to the climate change, it is necessary to develop water storage
infrastructure. The water can be stored for the coming dry periods. Unfortunately, in
Pakistan the construction of large dams is opposed by the various segments of the
society. Particularly Kalabagh dam has become a highly controversial project in the
history of Pakistan. The provinces of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are opposing
the dam. The evidence shows that the objection of these provinces is baseless. Various
studies have proved that the reservations over the dam are groundless. But, it is
mutual distrust and resentment of the provinces that limits the capacity of the state to
mange water disputes. The water management is not limited to the case of Pakistan
but it is very common in diverse societies. Various segments of heterogeneous states
have different approach and objectives. The problem is severe where the political and
the ethno-linguistic boundaries coincide. In such cases, it is very difficult for the
central authorities to ignore or override the regional aspirations. There is requirement
of national and international mechanisms to resolve the water related issues through
established norms to avoid the wastage of this precious commodity elsewhere.It is an
unfortunate reality that the provinces have failed to reach a consensus on the
construction of the Kalabagh dam despite the benefits that are associated with it. The
dam would help reduce the damage from the floods, generate cheap electricity, and
may help provide water to areas previously deprived. The political elites and the
feudal lords do not want to disrupt the status quo, they are politicizing the issue and
ignoring the greater good of the country. The benefits outweigh the complications and
the government should ensure that the construction of Kalabagh dam begins as soon
as possible.
The foremost step in this process should be creating awareness among the
people about water conservation methods. Farmers should be educated about
new irrigation technologies and methods such as drip irrigation, as well as more
efficient farming practices. Pakistan should resolve water conflicts domestically
 as well as with neighbor India. Water has become a source of provincial
conflict in Pakistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh have accusing the federal
government of exploiting water resources to fuel industrial and agricultural growth
in Punjab. To address this, a council including members from all provinces could
be created to amicably settle disputes related to water distribution. The water
dispute between Pakistan and India is a long-drawn and contentious issue.
However, incremental confidence-building measures could be put in place to
improve the situation. For instance, the Indus Commission, which has
representatives from both countries, should take up joint areas of concern for
discussion, such as effects of climate change on water.
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o Ibid.
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o Ibid.
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