Many people in the federal government have taken umbrage at a statement attributed to the Chairman of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), Shakil Durrani, that had Kalabagh dam been built Nowshera would have been under water, sources exclusively told Business Recorder.
Wapda Chairman's statement is against government policy and as a representative of the federal government he is not authorised to give statements that may place the government in a compromising position, sources said. "We are considering questioning the Wapda Chairman on airing his controversial views on Kalabagh dam and strict action may be taken against him," they added.
When contacted, Durrani clarified that he had simply stated that Nowshera's current situation was due to the Swat River and, if Kalabagh dam had been constructed and packed with water, the city would have faced the same situation. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Punjab Governor recently stated that Kalabagh dam would have averted the crisis in the city. Gilani is likely to be informed of Wapda Chairman's comments, as he is the competent authority to take any decision in respect of the Chairman's tenure in Wapda.
Rejecting the notion that Kalabagh dam would have averted the devastation caused by recent floods, a former chairman of Indus River System Authority (Irsa), Fatehullah Khan Gandapur, stated that Kalabagh dam mighty have caused more devastation. He had further stated that the feasibility report clearly noted that Kalabagh dam is not a flood control project and, had it been constructed, the magnitude of destruction would have been beyond imagination.
However, neutral experts maintain that Kalabagh dam would have benefited the country's economy in terms of providing energy (installed initial capacity of 2400 MW with 3600 MW ultimately) as well as irrigation water and it is simply unfortunate that it has been politicised. They added that Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) estimated that annual electricity generated at Kalabagh would be 20 million barrels of oil equivalent, saving fuel that would otherwise be needed to produce thermal power.