LAHORE: Unfazed by criticism of his push for controversial Kalabagh Dam, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Zafar Mahmood says he will continue his efforts to remove what he describes as misconceptions about the project to pave way for its implementation.

Talking to Dawn on Thursday, Mahmood offered to quit his job if “anyone from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan could prove that the implementation of the project would submerge Nowshehra and affect flow of the Indus River”.

All the three smaller provinces are opposed to the 3,700MW Kalabagh Dam project with their assemblies having passed resolutions against its construction. The last time the federal government had tried to create a provincial consensus over the project was under Gen Pervez Musharraf who was forced to take a step back after strong opposition from Sindh and KP.

Requests assemblies of three provinces to give him a patient hearing

The Nawaz Sharif government too has distanced itself from the Wapda chairman’s stance on the dam, terming it his ‘personal opinion’.

“Whatever I am speaking on the issue is based on facts I have dug out in my personal capacity. And before sharing my input on the project publically, I myself had discussed it about one-and-half years back with Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif who had allowed me to do so to the extent of facts alone,” Mr Mahmood said.

He asked the KP government to appoint any consultant of its choice to study the issue of Nowshehra.

According to a study conducted by an international consultant about the issue of Nowshehra, he said, there would be no threat to the city. “The KP government can get another study conducted by any other international consultant of its choice if it doesn’t agree with the findings of the previous consultant,” he added.

Mr Mahmood also described as incorrect Sindh’s concern regarding disruption to the Indus River flow due to the construction of various canals.

“Since there was no plan for constructing new canals, how could it affect the river flow?,” he wondered. “I have also written letters to the chief secretaries of Sindh, KP and Balochistan to either constitute a joint committee or make any other arrangement to thoroughly review all genuine concerns and build consensus leading to execution of the project,” the chairman said.

He said he was ready to argue and justify his stance in provincial assemblies where some adjournment motions were moved against him. “I request the assemblies to hear me in detail and then take the decision whether or not the project should be taken to the Council of Common Interest (CCI). In my opinion the proposal must be submitted before the CCI for approval, since it is a very important issue and should be executed for generating cheap hydel electricity,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2016