KARACHI, Sept 18: The government’s decision to go ahead with its Kalabagh Dam project was opposed at a seminar on Water Controversy after President Musharraf’s Speech held here on Thursday under the auspices of the Pakistan Press Foundation at its Vicky Zeitlin Library.

Speaking at the seminar, speakers said that the dam would render a large tract of land in Sindh barren. Terming the decision ‘politically motivated’, the said that the project would not only create a serious economic crisis and an unprecedented proportion of unemployment in the province, but also result in a bitter acrimony and feelings of alienation among provinces.

Prominent among those who spoke at the seminar were Shamim-ur-Rahman, Prof Syed Iqbal Mohsin, Ali Hamza Kazmi and M. H. Panhwar.

Mr Shamim-ur-Rehman observed that dams and reservoirs were most important requirement of a society but the way Gen Musharraf had tried to highlight the significance of water reservoirs was imprudent. He pointed out that the trend of building huge dams and reservoirs was fast declining in the world due to their high cost. Instead, small dams and reservoirs are in vogue because of their being cost effective and more beneficial.

Prof Iqbal Mohsin was of the view that Kalabagh Dam might affect more than 80,000 people in the NWFP and inundate nearly 100 million acres of land there.

M. H. Punhwar said that various committees, formed by successive governments to work on water related issues, contributed to cut in Sindh’s share and raising the Punjab’s. He described the practice as ‘mockery of justice’.

He pointed out that the notification of the technical committee, headed by Mr A. G. Abbasi, which was formed by the president to oversee technical aspects of constructing Kalabagh Dam and remove ambiguity and apprehensions of masses in this regard, had not so far been issued which reflected non-serious approach of the government.

He said that ignoring the aspirations of Sindh’s citizens to build the dam would undermine harmony among the provinces.—PPI