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How should the Government bring around the opposition parties towards agreeing to Kalabagh Dam?
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Your Opinions
I think that the government should abandon Kalabagh Dam immediately in the present prevalent situation. It is time to plan for the construction of a number of small dams for water storage. Nuclear power plants should be used for electricity generation. It is possible to build nuclear power plants at locations where electricity is required the most with minimum line losses, whereas, Kalabagh Dam is far away from the least developed parts of the country and it will be very costly to connect those areas through national grid lines besides line losses would be high as well.
Government should consult all the opposing parties and get proposals about how to overcome shortage of water in near future. We should also keep in mind that due to global warming, there will be less snow and more rains, so instead of constructing one mega-dam, a number of storage dams will be more feasible option.
Tahir Naveed
Ottawa, Canada
In the current controversy on Kalabagh Dam, I see a peculiar situation of the
country struggling to find a nation in contrast with the pre-1947 era, when a
nation was struggling to find a country. As soon as we get united, everything
will be alright.
Mohammad Waseem Khan
Pakistan
Iron hands needed to convince those politicians who want to see their names on
top of everything. It is painful, but this is the only option that will produce
results with minimum cost for sure.
Rizwan Khan
USA
The issue of Kalabagh Dam can
be easily tackled. However for this, we need to do some groundwork before
the project actually takes start. Unfortunately, we the people of Pakistan have
lost our faith in federation and we are accusing Punjab for every sin though it
may not be involved. This trust of the smaller provinces can be restored,
if the people of Pakistan are left to decide on their own instead of decisions
being imposed on them.
With the construction of KBD, no doubt, Sindh will suffer. However for winning over the consent of Sindh, it is necessary to build Bhasha and Kachora Dams before the Kalabagh. These two dams will ensure regular water flow in Indus and, thereby, would leave no cause of complaint.
I am sure no one then will oppose initiating KBD, as this would not be making any issue in the presence of sustained supply of water. In such a situation even we shall be able to extract canals from KBD to irrigate Cholistan or other areas of Punjab. These canals will go un-noticed in the presence of more water.
Hamid Marwat
Islamabad, Pakistan
Government has to find a way to have structured and conclusive talks with the
stakeholders. Mind you the stakeholders should be genuine. Now, who are the
genuine and representative stakeholders? It is the biggest challenge to
identify and make sincere dialogues with facts and figures to arrive at a consensus.
But there is one clear observation that the opposition as usual is playing dirty.
Ozair Mustafa
UAE
It would have been simpler if British India politics of 'divide and rule'
had been undone and the Kalabagh area reverted to NWFP before announcing
the Dam, but anyway, now I would suggest:
Change the name to ‘Yakjehti Dam’ or ‘Pakistan Dam’ or ‘Jinnah Dam’. Publish the guaranteed weekly outflow in the river during and post dam construction with cash payment of penalties for any shortage to say Sindh 80%, NWFP 10% and Balochistan 10% of the accrued amount. Punjab lease/hand over the project to the federal government on a BOO basis. Punjab gives up its right to any and all royalty. Bind the main contractor to 'source' by domicile and registration of all small/sub-contracting in the other three provinces, in say ratio of Sindh 40%, NWFP 35% and Balochistan 25%.
The poorer provinces will benefit from the project upfront, the water requirement for downstream Indus will be monetized, the Dam will get built and the future of the Punjab economy will be secured.
Mian Shahid Ahmad
Pakistan
The government can take recourse to one of the two options for bringing along
the opposition parties with them on this issue. The first option relates to
government allowing the leaders of PML (N) and PPP to come to Pakistan on the
condition of their parties and supporters agreeing to Kalabagh Dam construction.
Other option is to simply bulldoze through the opponents of Kalabagh Dam and
start construction, ignoring the consequences, come what may.
Rana Zia Javed
Pakistan
Govt should call the international consulting firms and arrange new feasibility
report of the Dam and show this report to the nation. Govt should arrange a
Pakistan-wide televised live technical conference on Kalabagh dam. It is a
purely technical issue. Political parties or persons are opposing it only on the
political basis. Govt may arrange a referendum on this issue as well.
Makkah and Medina underwent a huge expansion during last 15 years. Lands here
are the worthiest of the world, but had it been the case in Pakistan, the
developments would never taken place.
Kalabagh Dam is purely an
engineering project. Govt should take step not only for the construction of this
Dam, but other dams also. Let all of them cry. No need to obtain opposition’s
approval and delay the matter inordinately.
Syed Hassan Abbas
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
The government should make an animated documentary film showing the rainfall and
the water flooding back to the ocean in the absence of adequate reservoirs and
then show a dam to store the same water and its usage by all provinces.
Mansoor Faiyaz
Pakistan
It
is very important for Pakistan and wellbeing of its people as well as the future
generations of Pakistan that mega-projects like Kalabagh Dam be started at the
earliest. Pakistan is a country with the potential to become Asian tiger and if
correct policies are introduced at right time, Pakistan can become one of the
advanced countries in this region. Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan
economy and water and electricity are basic needs for the improvement of this
sector.
Government
should have debates with opposition leaders and programs be played on national
TV to promote this project and public be educated with the benefits of this
project. In addition to this, genuine reservations of the people regarding this
project also be addressed at the earliest. Transparency be maintained in the
whole process and distribution of water and electricity created through this
project be distributed for the benefits of the provinces to redress their
grievances.
Public
should be taken into confidence and parties' representatives should be brought
on national TV to find out their party stand on this mega-project. It will not
only clarify situation but pubic at large will be educated. If by any chance,
Pakistan is able to achieve this goal, progress and prosperity will be the
future of the country.
Muqtedir
Akhtar
London, UK
There is no need for the present government to keep on requesting
opposition parties to reach an agreement for the construction of Kalabagh Dam because
I have no doubt to say that they do not like that this credit of
constructing the Dam should go to the present President, who is very sincere for
the welfare of the people without any discrimination.
Ahmed Khan Mallick
Pakistan
Kalabagh Dam construction is making more sense now, as they are explaining the
issue from technical point of view. That necessitates the depoliticizing and
getting less emotional and lesser of provincial partisanship as most of us were
expressing ourselves. This is more of technical issue and President Musharraf is
trying to get the right message through while giving constitutional guarantees
to Sindh that water flow to our Sindhi brothers will be guaranteed. Punjab is
agreeable to sign this constitutional guarantee. We have already gladly seen
Sindh become the industrial and commercial heart of Pakistan with Karachi grown
to twice the size of Lahore.
It makes sense, when
Musharraf himself a Sindhi is trying to explain to the Sindhis in technical ways
that the dams will mitigate sedimentation, which have tendencies to kind of plug
up the rivers in areas of flat plains like lower Punjab and Sindh. Too much
sedimentation inhibits the water flow and dams help to dislodge sedimentation
through pressure flows. There are many dams in the planning to work in series to
dislodge sedimentation from previous formations and keep the water flowing.
If there is constitutional guarantee for Sindh that its water share will be respected and made available, it is commendable step to keep us happily united. Dams can be opened or closed to regulate flow. It is understandable now that they are bringing the hidden sense out to the nation like a family in this inter-provincial dialogues on water resource sharing and caring with just and unmitigated share amongst all brotherly people of Pakistan.
Anwar Mahmood
Alberta, Canada
Government should arrange seminars associating all parties including government
and opposition and show them the convincing facts and figures that Kalabagh Dam
is necessary to build. Government needs to go ahead with the construction of
Kalabagh Dam, as it is necessary for Sindh and Pakistan also.
Pakistan
One question from all
politicians, former prime ministers, ministers, generals including the retired
ones and top mullahs that Kalabagh is a national issue or not, if it is a
national issue and I believe it is, are we thinking on national level? Are we
nationalist, do we think for the entire nation?
For God sake let the people of this country live in peace. Let all those plan go through without interruptions. Do you people deserve to do politics in this country? How many times you people have made damages to this country and how long you want to make damages to this country.
Half of the country was separated due to you people alone, as ordinary public had nothing to do with it. What else you want to do with this country, what will happen if Kalabagh Dam is completed? Do you like that we keep wasting water and do not use that water for the country.
Mumtaz
Canada
Once again the proposal of constructing Kalabagh Dam has emerged on the national politics, where political parties in Sindh, NWFP and Baluchistan are opposing the proposal of General Pervez Musharraf that Kalabagh Dam is necessary for Sindh.
The President has elaborated the situation during his tour to Sindh as why construction of Kalabagh Dam is necessary. In order to reach to a consensus with the leaders of the political parties and their workers, who are opposing the proposal of the President of Pakistan, the President has said that construction of Kalabagh Dam is necessary, as this is the case of life and death for the Sindh province.
What will be the next step of the President? Would the President will go ahead for constructing the Kalabagh dam, or will he wait for the leaders of political parties who are opposing the Kalabagh dam to reach to a consensus?
It is strange that some ministers and partners of coalition government are also opposing the President, whereas the masses in all the three provinces are viewing the situation as silent spectators.
The issue of Kalabagh dam remains unresolved for decades and in my opinion, political parties who do not agree with the proposal of the President for constructing Kalabagh dam will not agree at the moment. The situation of hangover between the President and the political parties will result in change of the government in due course of time.
There is a possibility that President may dissolve the cabinet in near future and will carry on the construction work of Kalabagh dam with the help of a care-taker government, which will work until the next general elections in the country in 2007 in the federal capital and the provinces.
Ministers, Senators, MNA’s, MPA’s who are opposing the President and are now part of the ruling party will have to go, whereas some political leaders, who at present oppose the idea of constructing the Kalabagh Dam, may later agree with the proposal of the President, so as to become the hand-picked future ministers of the present government.
The shakeup in the federal capital and the provinces is likely to take place, once the President will draw a line between the members of the government, as who agree or disagree with his proposal of constructing the Kalabagh Dam.
Syed A. Mateen
Karachi
pakistan@attglobal.net
The present discussion on the issue of Kalabagh Dam is one nice step of General Pervez Musharraf. He has convincing power and can mould opinions of the people. He did his best for this nation since his rule.
Construction of Kalabagh Dam would be his great achievement in the history of Pakistan. I hope that he will succeed in this project. We are sorry to say, politicians of Pakistan have never delivered for this country. They are merely selfish people. They do politics for their own interests.
All the parties are scared of the popularity of President Musharraf and especially, from this project, which will increase his popularity to win the hearts of the people of Pakistan. They don’t have the understanding of the present global conditions. The international financial institutions including America will be providing funds.
Kalabagh Dam or other dams can be constructed easily. Previously, the country progressed little during so-called democratic governments. People agitating appear to have lost all of their past memories.
I like democracy in the country, but when the political parties are themselves non-democratic and politicians are selfish elites-landlords-industrialists, then I would prefer this regime, which is good for the poor people.
I pray for the success of Dear Musharraf in initiating this project bravely and honestly for the good of the poor peasants. I wish to assure that all the poor people of this country love him and will continue loving him.
Mian Abdul Qayyum
Pakistan
The ongoing debate is taking
dramatic turns. Rather than convincing the opposition to standby Govt.'s
decision, the ‘khaki’ administration needs to bring homogeneity in its own
rank and file (PML-Q).
After the much trumpeted debate and deliberations, the khaki rulers' presence could not iron out the reservations of many of their own party affiliates, who knew only too well that any deviation from their mandate would spell doom for them in the next hustings.
If the PML (Q) chorus was for the necessity of constructing dams and reservoirs to show their solidarity with their leadership, it surely missed the point. The focal thrust on KBD was lost in the filibuster. In any case, the opposition always held identical views from the beginning - sans KBD.
The extra-constitutional decision of an individual bypassing the assemblies is recoiling and showing KBD is not a paragon of engineering design that cannot be executed and excelled elsewhere. Surely by a general consensus of opinion, the nation should expedite building of an alternate dam (Bhasha) and once the dam is in concrete reality, its benefits and rewards would be too obvious for anyone to ignore.
Dogmatic approach to any problem is obstinacy and obfuscates the mainstream proposal.
S. Nasrullah
Pakistan
Pakistan
needs smaller proportionate provinces and bigger dams. The four provinces,
federating units of Pakistan should be further divided into smaller ones.
This
will make the federation more balanced and address the grievances of smaller
provinces against Punjab. Once this is achieved 'Kalabagh dam' will become
politically acceptable to all.
Dr
Humayun Bashir
Canterbury, UK
The government has no need to
approach opposition parties for their assent on the proposal of Kalabagh Dam
construction, as it will be wasting time and energy.
Firstly because most of the opposition parties during their own reigns had issued statements favouring Kalabagh Dam and unluckily this is a common practice of our political parties that their statements change with their reign. Secondly, there are only a few political parties of some worth and all those, except one, have always advocated the project. Thirdly, if this project is to benefit Pakistan, then it needs to be initiated immediately irrespective of objections by certain persons or parties.
As consensus had already been there, the issuance of statements on Kalabagh Dam could be stopped through legislation or some unnecessary statements could be allowed and tolerated in the interests of the nation.
Therefore, the present
government, if truly interested in this project need not waste time on this lame
excuse.
Rana Javed
Pakistan
There should not be any doubt
in the requirement and sincerity of government in building large water
reservoirs. One has to see the long-term repercussions and technical aspects of
these projects. As far as financial viability and construction time is
concerned, KBD project is right now the best option available.
If our politicians, who are
opposing this project, think above their political gains and try to be rationale
in their approach towards this issue of national importance, they should never
oppose it. They are afraid of telling their innocent people the factual position
of KBD and its long-term benefits for the whole nation.
As far as government is concerned, it should focus more on media campaign to
educate the people about salient features of this project, which can eliminate
their doubts. Sindh and NWFP representation in the project administration and
controlling body of this water reservoir should be tremendously increased so
that they have the confidence that their destiny would be in their own hands.
The feeling or misconception of Punjab being snatching their share should be
removed by taking drastic remedial and confidence building measures by our
government. Only then, we can gain the willing support of Sindh and NWFP people.
Muhammad Azeem
Pakistan
Opposition in Pakistan is known from the past to disagree for the sake of
disagreement, no matter whether the disagreement is right or wrong, as they do
not know the difference between what is good for the nation and what is not.
In the 21st century, where other countries of the world unite on the matters of national interests and will not go against and seek to agree with the ruling party, in Pakistan it is not the case.
All dams must be constructed to make the country capable of meeting the future needs of water. An agro-based economy needs sufficient water to keep the agriculture going to produce and feed the people and then some to export to other needy countries.
What is wrong to have water reservoirs? Why can't this so-called opposition understand that the dams are absolute need of the country and must be constructed to provide jobs to the unemployed? There are many benefits to the entire nation with the construction of dams, not one but more than one, keeping in view the future growth and progress of the country in mind.
I fully support mega projects in Pakistan and it would be better to discuss with the opposition and listen to their views, why are they against it?
Mohammad Akram
Pakistan
Beauty of democracy is that the majority opinion prevails. Matters of vital
national imperatives are never debated in public, but are mandated by the
security concerns of the state and the nation.
The acquisition of nuclear technology had the solid foundation of popular support. Though never debated in public, the entire nation proudly stands united jealously guarding its invincible nuclear assets.
When the world pressure was turned on Pakistan to desist, defer and ditch the nuclear ambitions in the aftermath of Indian nuclear adventure, few muted voices of cynicism erupted from certain quarters. Neither the glitter of monetary incentives nor the gumption of stifling sanctions could daunt or deter our resolve.
Water is not only our lifeline, but also of our plants, both vegetation and industrial. Our cycle of staple and cash crops subsists on plentiful water year round. Pakistan's agri-based economy has a roller-coaster ride, registering bumper crops with favourable weather and water conditions or slump in bad weather and water paucity situations. If we do not wish to leave this sector of economy to weather vagaries, we need to formulate pragmatic plans of water arteries around the length and breadth of Pakistan with many dams and reservoirs to feed the canals. Better performance of our agricultural sector would supplement our industrial growth and expansion.
The location, catchments areas, rainfall and topography highlight feasibility studies that invariably involve core security issues, which overrides many provincial and peripheral ramifications.
The subject of dams and reservoirs must be viewed from the national standpoint and certainly not by the myopic provincial and parochial angles. People from the other side of the rostrum are Pakistanis first and foremost and appreciate the significance of the subject with differing views on implementation.
S. Nasrullah
Pakistan