Socio economic Potential of Kalabagh Dam and Existing Challenges

Abstract

1. After completion of the Tarbela reservoir in 1976, no further dams have been built by Pakistan. At the same time, due to sedimentation, the combined storage capacity of Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma reservoirs had depleted by 4.58 MAF by 2002. This means water storage loss would reach 6.27 MAF by the year 2013, which would be almost equal to the planned capacity of the Kalabagh Reservoir. In order to meet water shortage in Pakistan Kalabagh Dam is the Syndicate’s preferred option. It is a “now” Project, and can be initiated immediately, compared to the other options, as all its preparatory studies stand completed. Its benefits are more as compare to the other options. It is expected to cost about Rs. 291 billion while it would generate annual benefits of nearly Rs. 60 billion. The project cost is recoverable in about 5 years. Main socio economic potentials include power generation 3600 MW , irrigation supplies, flood mitigation, food security, employment, growth of industry and agriculture sectors, recreation and fisheries. Despite so many benefits, the Kalabagh Dam project has often been subjected to public criticism, especially by certain interest groups representing Sindh, KPK and Balochistan provinces. Our research clearly concluded that almost all the fears expressed on technical grounds are either plain misapprehensions or based on incorrect knowledge of the facts. Yet, these have aided the generation of anti-Kalabagh Dam feelings in the smaller provinces. Since we concluded that there is no real technical basis for opposing the Kalabagh Dam,the Syndicate then explored the contentious political issues to understand the reasons for opposition to this project. The syndicate has specially emphasized that why we need Kalabagh dam. The availability of natural site, less sedimentation due to Tarbela U/S, feasibility already done, highly cost beneficial, capacity of dam equals to cost capacity of other reservoirs, recommended by international firms, multipurpose reservoir ,more feasible than Basha dam and recommended by the public during Urdu press polls of June 2010. The Syndicate has also examined certain international best practices and drew lessons from them. The Syndicate also looked at how agreements were reached between bitter enemies, like Pakistan and India, on the Indus Water Basin Treaty, for agreement amongst multiple states within one country, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Hoover Dam cases. These lessons were used by the Syndicate to develop conclusions and recommendations in finding ways of rapprochement on the Kalabagh Dam issue