* ‘Chronic mistrust’ among provinces, central government
The summer’s floods in Pakistan have reopened a quarter-century-old debate on whether to build a large hydroelectric dam on the Indus River or not, a dispute that has split the nation along regional lines.
Supporters say the water reservoir could have prevented much of the floods’ devastation and boosted agricultural production along the river. Opponents say just the opposite.
The debate over the Kalabagh Dam shows how the worst natural disaster in Pakistan’s history, affecting some 20 million people, has unearthed deep fissures in its society. There is a chronic mistrust among the provinces and the central government, and critics accuse wealthy landowners of naked self-interest in wanting to ensure the Indus keeps irrigating their crops.
In the northwest, politicians and farmers fear the dam could mean more flooding and not less. They say if the dam’s reservoir was full, surplus water would be diverted into some districts in the region.
South of Punjab, they fear the dam would mean drought and poor crops. Both regions ultimately think that it would give Punjab even more economic and political clout.
Nonsense: The governor of Punjab dismisses the arguments as “nonsense”. “It is an emotional issue that they play up and say the ‘Punjabis are stealing your water’,” said Salmaan Taseer, a vocal proponent of the dam.
Shamsul Mulk, former chairman of Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority and a strong supporter of the dam, said even a “common man” could see that having the dam in place would have mitigated the floods.
No one disputes the electricity that would be supplied from the dam would benefit the whole country.
Studies show the dam would generate some 3,400 megawatts of electricity and could be built in under five years. Still, few outside Punjab support it.
Leaders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa say the dam will destroy farmlands in the Peshawar valley.
“We will never let it happen,” said Bashir Bilour, a senior minister in the province.
In Sindh, there are fears Punjab will use the Kalabagh Dam to hog water, meaning even less will reach their farmlands. That could also lead to greater salination.
“The dam means our lands will turn into deserts,” said Khaliq Junejo, vice chairman of a Sindhi nationalist party. ap
“ Floods in Pakistan: A result of Victimization of Kalabagh Dam and Punjab”.
With the large number of deaths and destruction due to floods, continuous shortage of electricity in the country and continuous shortage of water at the time of need in rest of year has made the lives of people of Pakistan completely intoleratable. Now every one has started questioning the role of state and governments for bringing their lives in such a miserable condition, therefore it is necessary to analyze the root causes for all these miseries and painful condition from which people of Pakistan are suffering.
Pending Kalabagh Dam:
Pending Kalabagh and other dams are main root cause for most of the problems of people of Pakistan, but in fact its situation and location just makes it the future pumping heart of Pakistani nation, due to its importance and ability to solve the most of the problems of People of Pakistan, enemies of Pakistan are very proactive in making opposition to this dam ,and the enemies of Pakistan are making use of tactics of ethnocentrism and provincialism for opposing this dam, so that people of Pakistan can never ever be able to solve their problems.
Civilized nations of the world build and maintain large reservoirs of currency in banks, fuel oil in tanks, gas in pressurized tanks, food and other items of needs in ware houses and cold storages, but the enemies of Pakistan are not allowing the storage of water in dams which is one of the most basic necessity of humans, plants and animals, and just want that there should be no water management and development on the only and sole life line of Pakistan which is River Indus and they just want that its water should continue to waste in the sea. These enemies are very proactive in two provinces of Pakistan, one is Sind and other is PuktunKhwa. Politicians of these two provinces always had played a negative role in the life of Pakistan. In fact the largest genocide of 3.0 million people of Pakistan committed in 1971 in East Pakistan was planned by General Yahya Khan and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. both were belonging from these two provinces. Moreover these two provinces are the main hub of disease of ethnic and hatred base provincial politics.
Sind:
Some facts about this province are:
Before floods politicians of Sind used to say that there is no water in the system for Kalabagh Dam, and now after floods they are saying there was flood of 3.0 Million Acre feet, therefore Kalabagh Dam having capacity of 1.0 million Acre feet was unable to stop flood, from such hypocrisy every one can sense the effects of disease of provincialism, while infect even storage of just ½ million acre feet in Kalabagh Dam was more than enough to break the peak of flood, it was the super flood which was required to control and not that of normal flood, as now Kalabagh Dam is not existing people should face such disasters without any mercy in coming years also.
Hypocrisy and hegemony of Politicians of Sind is also obvious from following facts
Sind producing more crops each year with more consumption of water at the same time politicians making propaganda that Punjab is stealing water.
Sind producing rice crop in most of its arid and barren areas with no rain fall but still there is shortage of water and making propaganda that Punjab is stealing water.
Sind increasing irrigated land near coastal area in Badin and at the same time making propaganda that there is intrusion of sea in Badin as Punjab is stealing water.
Sind wasting one crore acre feet of water in sea but still there is shortage of water and making propaganda that Punjab is stealing water.
Sind opposing any project on River Indus like Kalabagh Dam and any other project but still demanding more water.
According to politicians of this province there is shortage of water for Chasma Jehlum Link Canal, For Kalabagh Dam, for Thal Canal, and as a whole For Punjab,
but there is lot of water to waste in Arabian sea at Thatta and Badin,
There is lot of water to grow rice in the Larkana so much that ruins of Moen Jo Daro are suffering from problem of water logging, the problem from which these ruins have not suffered during last 4500 years.
There is lot of Indus water to waste in Manchar Lake, Kurlee Lake so much that now there is need to waste the water of these lakes in sea.
There is lot of water to sink coastal areas of Badin and Thatta under Indus water.
There is lot of water so much that we are pouring sweet water on saline Mangrove plants of sea.
In present scenario according to Sind polticians it is not justified to use water for generation of electricity and preservation of water for future use and prevention of floods by building Kalabagh Dam, but it is justified to waste about one million acre feet water in the sea and that is also not from its share but from the share of other provinces so that people of Punjab could be thrown in poverty and darkness due to shortage of water and electricity.Sind will not allow other provinces of Pakistan to take one bucket of water and will not allow to grow one straw of grass, but will like to waste water in the sea as fishes of sea are very chronically thirsty.
The credit stands with Sind that despite obtaining ample water and ample crops it’s always ready to victimize and malign Punjab, Kalabagh Dam, Thal Canal, and Chasma Jehlum canal, it’s making good use of politics of balckmailing and water.
Preservation and storage of water in Kalabagh Dam will increase agriculture land,generation of electricity ,and will prevent wastage of sweet water and fertile sand in the sea .
Advanced nations of the world are recycling and treating drain water for reuse while politician and Government of Sind is wasting and polluting sweet water into the sea.
USA and India have large number of rivers and fresh water reservoirs but instead of wasting their water in sea they are using saline water of sea for agriculture and other purposes but we Pakistanies have just one river and even then we are wasting that one by the foolish politicians and Government of Sind.
Israel and Saudi Arabia are using water of Sea by desalination for their use so much that sea is drying and drying day by day but we Pakistanis are wasting our sweet water into sea what a unique type of crime and foolish act.
Only by taking out water from sea can stop sea intrusion and by discarding more and more sweet water into sea will aggravate the problem of so called sea intrusion.
Government of Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned for sinking delta dwellers people of Bangladesh and Island dweller people of Maldives under sea by wasting about 10 Million Acres feet water of River Indus from the catchments area of whole of Pakistan in the sea and is not preserving and storing that water in dams like Kalabagh and Basha, on one side people of Pakistan are suffering from acute wastage of water and electricity and on other side Government is wasting sweet water in the sea which is not only causing sea rise and erosion of coastal land for whole of subcontinent, including Bangladesh and Maldives but is also harmful for saline habitat fishes and saline and sea plants like Mangroves
On one side there is shortage of water in Pakistan on other side in Sind there is wastage of water,cultivation of crops such as rice,sugar can and banana which are highly dependent on water and at the same time demanding wastage of water in sea and objecting even on preservation of water in Kalabagh, on use of water for agriculture in Punjab, if there is shortage of water then why Sind is cultivating rice,bannana and sugarcane which are highly water dependent, if Punjab is not giving water then from where the water of Kulree ,Mancahr lakes have arrived, if Punjab is not giving water then how from Larkana to Thatta area is suffering from problem of water logging.
Sind wants Punjab to obey its desire for wastage of water as it is mentioned in 1991 water agreement, Punjab Should stop its people living along river Indus from Kalabagh to Sadiqabad not to use water for irrigation because Provincialism is more important than Humanity.
As Sind, Balochistan and Pukhtunkhwa are against Kalabagh Dam because as per Sind logic Thar Coal is better than Kalabagh as Kalabagh will emmit BLACK SMOKE and Thar Coal will emmit fresh air full of Oxygen.
And as per Balouchistan Vision GAS and coal extracted from Balouchistan are one of the most clean source of energy and Kalabagh will pollute air and land resouces and people will drown in Kalabagh and no one is dying in the coal caves of Balochistan.
And as per PuktunKhwa wisdom Royalty of Tarballa is so important that Pakistan can be broken for that but Kalabgh dam is not good looking as it is in Punjab and all dams should be built well within the Pukhtonnkhwa from Basha to Attock, but as Klagabagh Dam is on the border of Punjab therefore it should not be built.
In every super flood city of Nowshera sink under water, but it is necessary to continue to rehabilitate that city again and again because that is the hub of smuggling,crimes and drugs where as Kalabagh dam should be blown with bombs.
All provinces want Provincial autonomy but Punjab should open or close its canals , iirigate its land and construct Dams as per desire of other provinces and after asking from other provinces Because it is necessary for unity and prosperity of Pakistan as when there will be no agriculture,no electricity and no water then Pakistan will be more united and more prosperous.
Failure of Punjab Govertnment:
Government of Punjab has chronically failed in protecting the rights of people of Punjab. Which is evident from the fact that it has not made any efforts for the construction of Kalabagh Dam while Govt of Sind is very proactive even in wasting the water of river Indus in Arabian sea.If Punjab govt can not protect the rights of people living alongside river Indus,it will be better to separate out those areas from Punjab,so that those people can protect their rights themselves. From NFC award it is evident that Punjab Govt has sacrificed the rights of people just for pleasing those who always hate punjab. Moreover Punjab Govt has not raised any concern about the suffering of people of Punjab in Baluchistan,Karachi and Sind. Thar coal project will have adverse effects on each and every living organism,atmosphere,enviroment in Punjab but Punjab Govt foolish leaders has not shown any concern about that project.
Due to incompetent Punjab Government , situation has so much deteriorated that other provinces which are very vocal about Provincial autonomy are interfering in the affairs of Punjab by violating provincial autonomy of Punjab , for example Sind Province Government and Assembly has started to give suggestions to Punjab that which Canal should be kept opened or closed, which Dam (hydrel project ) should be constructed or not, and which land of Punjab should be cultivated or not, while Punjab Government is completely silent about such interference, while Sind Government is busy in wasting River Indus water in Arabian sea which is a sin and crime against humanity but Punjab government is making no objection about such wastage.
Punjab gopvernment and its water experts are also responsible for wastage of water in Sind,
As they never questioned or monitored that why Sweet water of Indus is being discarded in sea, which infact will be injurious and harmful for saline fishes and plants of sea.
In Karachi it is very common observation that sea fishes do not survive in sweet water even for Minutes.
Punjab Government never questioned from Sind Government that why they are wasting sweet water for saline plants of Mangroos which very finely grow in saline water as on coastal areas of Karachi there is no sweet water but highly dense forest of Mangroos are present there even in front of Karachi Port Trust.
Punjab never questioned from Sind why large agricultuure area of Sind about 38 % is suffering from water logging.
Punjab never questioned from Sind why Sind is demanding sweet water for coastal areas while there are so many varities of both wheat and other plants which even can grow in saline land.
Politicians of other provinces want to make Punjab a crippled province but foolish government of Punjab is not able to comprehend that, a sick ,crippled Punjab wil be a liability and not an asset for Pakistan. Allowing and accepting wastage of River Indus water in sea in 1991 by Province of Sind is a fatal and non forgivable crime of Punjab Government.
Accepting wastage of River water in sea is like accepting wastage of wheat,rice,sugar and cotton in the sea.
Lethargic Federal Government:
Instead of understanding the mentality of enemies of PAKISTAN, Federal government is waiting for the consensus on issue of water and dams, which is simply impossible, because these enemies will never agree on any point which will be for the welfare of people of Pakistan.Federal government is 100 % responsible for the deaths and destruction due to this flood, as that is not making decisions in the national interest and as per desires of people of Pakistan but inafct making decisions as per blackmailing of ethnic parties such as ANP,MQM and Jijye Sind who are traders of hatred and are enemies of innocent people from day first and are involved in target killing of noble and innocent people of Pakistan
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to direct Sind not to commit crime by polluting river Indus water by wasting it in saline sea water.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to direct Sind not to waste water in province which is causing water logging in Sind and causing damage to land.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to direct Punjab and Sind goverment for construction of Dams like Kalabagh to preserve water and generation of electricity.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to make laws against polluting of River water as Sind is polluting River water.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to make laws against wasting of River water as Sind is polluting River water.
It is the responsibility of Federal Government to make laws against polluting of water,land and air as Sind is planning to do by polluting these by smoke of Thar coal.
Sind Government should make arrangement for more and more extraction of water from sea and desalination of sea water and use of sweet water in saline land should be completely restricted, its very strange that Karachi city government is trying to install plants of desalination for obtaining sweet water from sea for city while Sind Government is wasting sweet water of Indus about one crore Acre feet water in the sea what a foolish act and what a crime against humanity.
Those who adovcate wastage of River Indus in sea and oppose PRESERVATION AND STORAGE OF water at Kalabagh are infact the enemies of Pakistan.
Logic that river water will stop the intrusion of sea is the most foolish Idea, on one side there is ONE MIGHTY SEA AND on other side there is a just one river coming from arid zone,The river will infact rise the level of sea ultimately leading to sea to spread on land and will further cause water logging and salinity of land.
The main forest of Mangroves of Sind coastal areas are located in Karachi but Sind is not providing even drinking water to citizens of Karachi.
If there is problem of salinity and sea intrusion on coastal areas of Sind, there is need to eastablish salt Industry in that area instead of agriculture while by wastage of river water in sea we are wasting sweet water and also wasting salt of the land which is an important mineral and pouring river water in sea there will be just further rise in sea water and more intrusion of sea water in all coastal areas.
The simple logic is that those who do not want dams like Kalabagh to be built, they are enemies of the country or at least don’t want Pakistan to have vibrant economy and social peace. The forces and lobbies that opposed Pakistan and those that are stuck up in their narrow grooves of provincialism would not like Pakistan to become an economically viable country. The weak economy foments societal discontent and political instability. That is the spectacle that patriotic Pakistanis have been witnessing since the inception of Pakistan.
Disease of Provincialism in Politicians of NWFP and Sind is mainly responsible for floods,power and water shortage mayhem and the resultant chaos in the society due to tormenting blackouts and long power outrages and death due to floods.
Conclusion:
It is the responsibility of international community (USA,EU,UK,India,China and other neighbor countries) to persuade government of Pakistan to take care of its people and make dams and flood control projects for countering shortage of water and electricity otherwise foolish rulers of Pakistan will always remain sitting by keeping their hands over hands in their foolish paradise waiting for centuries for consensus building for Dams in the presence of pus and poision of provincialism and like beggars themselves will do nothing and suffering of people of Pakistan will continue forever along with floods, poverty, illiteracy, darkness, Corruption, provincialism, ethnocentriosm, terrorism and extremism.
Written by: M.AKRAM KHAN NIAZI.
Karachi,Pakistan.
Say NO to Kalabagh dam and YES to Pakistan.
– Building KBD is an effort to weaken Pakistan as 3 out of 4 Provincial Assemblies have passed about 10 resolutions against construction of KBD in Punjab.
Say NO to Kalabagh dam and YES to Pakistan.
– Building KBD is an effort to weaken Pakistan as 3 out of 4 Provincial Assemblies have passed about 10 resolutions against construction of KBD in Punjab.
– Punjab is trying to prove, people of three out of four provinces are enemies of Pakistan and also themselves. This is highly objectionable effort on part of Punjab.
– In the past Punjab played the same game and compelled “majority” (56% population) to get independence from “minority” – East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
Punjab must learn lesson from the history and stop treating rest three provinces as their “colonies”.
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– Punjab is trying to prove, people of three out of four provinces are enemies of Pakistan and also themselves. This is highly objectionable effort on part of Punjab.
– In the past Punjab played the same game and compelled “majority” (56% population) to get independence from “minority” – East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
Punjab must learn lesson from the history and stop treating rest three provinces as their “colonies”.
– Three out of four Provincial Assemblies have passed about 10 resolutions against construction of Kalabagh dam (KBD) in Punjab.
– Punjab is giving impression that three out of four provinces viz. Sindh, Balochistan and KP by opposing Kalabagh dam in Punjab, are real enemies of Pakistan is totally wrong and unacceptable. At the same time, Punjab giving impression that only Punjab is well-wisher of three provinces and people of three provinces are enemies of their own, is wrong. This thinking must be abandoned immediately as we have not learnt lesson from separation of East Pakistan (56% population)
In the past, Punjab compelled “majority” (56% population) to get independence from “minority”. The only example in the sovereign states in the world.
Now a gang of people belonging to Punjab are bent upon to prove the people of three provinces out of four are “Traitors”. What a shame.
Bhasha dam is already under construction whereas Munda dam with double capacity of KBD is also to start construction work soon.
Therefore, there is no need to build KBD as it would only control and reduce the water of Sindh.
In Sindh, sixth largest Indus delta in the world is on verge of unnatural death due to non-implementation of water Accord – 1991 by Punjab after passing 19 years of signing it and Punjab not allowing to release 10 MAF water downstream Kotri to save Indus delta and people 2.7 million living in areas between Kotri and Arabian Sea. They are Pakistani and Muslims. What happened if they are not Punjabis?
Flood water is not stored in dams. Plz see interview of Fatehullah Gandapur, ex-IRSA chairman (1993-1998) to daily Times (Aug 12, 2010) while denying the claim of PM Gillani (belonging to Punjab) that KBD was not designed as flood control project.
– Why super floods are creating havoc in USA, Europe and Asia despite having dams? Please think again and again