Advocating an early construction of Kalabagh Dam, Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry Saturday said that the dam is must for survival of Pakistan, as it is linked to eradication of poverty and hunger. Delay in taking practical steps is already leading the country to irrecoverable disaster in Tharparkar.
All those who were opposing the Kalabagh Dam despite severe energy crisis and water shortage, were not well wishers of this country as they were playing with the country's future LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz said in a statement on Saturday. He said that the only because of silence of policy makers over Kalabagh dam, country is suffering a loss of Rs 132 billion annually. This amount could be saved by completing this mega project. He said that according to the experts, there is no threat to Nowshera city as it is 150 feet above the water level.
He said that Kalabagh Dam, was not only beneficial to Punjab alone but it would be more helpful in erasing poverty from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as would irrigate 800,000 acres of cultivable land that is located 100-150 feet above the Indus river level in the province. He said this land could only be brought under cultivation if the river level is raised that is only possible if Kalabagh Dam is built. He said the other alternative is to pump the water which is very costly. He said creditable studies have indicated that pumping water for potential cultivable land would cost farmers Rs 5000 per acre per year while canal water after construction of Kalabagh Dam would cost only Rs400 per acre per year.
He said that the politicians opposing the construction of the dam are in fact enemies of the people of province. He said historical data indicates that during past 75 years average 146 million acres of water is available per year in river Indus.
Ijaz A. Mumtaz said the Kalabagh Dam issue has been so much politicised that a consensus would not be possible. The political leadership, he added, is manipulating the issue for their advantage.
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