Former Wapda chairman Shamsulmulk said on Wednesday that Kalabagh dam project is the most-studied scheme that has undergone 35 years of expert scrutiny taking into account all aspects. Speaking in a PTV programme he said the feasibility of the project had been reviewed by renowned international experts who found it technically and economically viable.
He said the proposed dam would not aggravate the problem of flooding at Nowshera in NWFP and the report of the experts also ruled out any adverse effects for Sindh province.
The fact is that some people have been politicising the project without any logical or technical grounds, Shamsulmulk said. The project is in the interest of silent majority of the country, he said.
Cheap electricity is the need of the hour not only for domestic and industrial use but also for the development of agriculture sector, he added.
The developing countries like China and India have harnessed 30 percent of their hydro-power potential, while Pakistan has so far utilised only 10 percent, he said.
Urging the need for mobilising the people at grass roots level and creating awareness among them about the significance of Kalabagh dam, he said the local bodies institutions can play important role in this connection.