September 16, 2003	Tuesday	Rajab 18, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 15: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has said that it is wrong to say that Kalabagh dam will alleviate water shortage in the country in the foreseeable future, noting that big dams take one to two decades to construct.

In her statement on the issue of water shortage released here by the Pakistan People’s Party media cell on Sunday, she called upon the people to support the pro-people forces and reject the anti-people forces, “who from one dictatorship to another presided over power shortages, water shortages, law and order collapse and increasing violence as a means to strengthen their anti-people rule”.

The PPP chairperson demanded immediate building of the series of small dams, from Khyber to Karachi, to alleviate water shortage in the country. She also called for laying of a network of free tubewells across the length and breadth of the country as well as lining of canals and desilting of dams as chalked out by her party to help the people and the country overcome the water crisis.

It was true that the people of Pakistan desperately needed water, she said, and added that for this purpose, the PPP undertook various plans, including the building of small dams and lining of canals, to save the people from water shortage.

Ms Bhutto claimed that building of controversial dams which lacked constitutional cover was an excuse to prolong the water crisis and make people suffer. A quarter of a century earlier, “another military dictator had resorted to this inhuman trick,” she said.

Bb SMALLER DAMS: She expressed her concern that “another quarter of a century will pass with the water crisis worsening unless smaller dams are built. Water experts say that smaller dams are cheaper and quicker to build and make water available without the environmental damage and dislocation of the people caused by bigger dams.”

Bigger dams could take as long as 20 years to make, she said, adding: “However, the kickbacks are in big dams and not in the smaller dams, which is one reason why vested interests promote larger dams over smaller ones. Experts challenge the view that Kalabagh can meet the water shortage of the country. Envisaged as an electricity dam, Kalabagh will remain dry for most years.” She noted that unless the water crisis was dealt with through emergent and quick measures, the shortage of drinking water would increase, agriculture growth affected, the economy would suffer and poverty increase.