ITt is considered flogging a dead horse to discuss the issue of the Kalabagh dam. But, irrespective of all the negative approaches, I consider it my first duty to think of my nation’s interest. Basically, what the issue is?

Many people in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa consider this dam a death sentence to their fields and crops. The fact is none of them knows the future consequences of not constructing this crucial dam.

Before the construction of Mangla and Tarbela dams, Sindh was getting 35 MAF of water while after the two dams were constructed it is now getting 44.5 MAF. In the months of summer, after the constructin of KB dam, an additional quantity of 6.1 MAF will be available for Sindh which will ensure the cultivation of hundreds of acres of barren land. Hence the main beneficiary of water from the KB dam will be the people of Sindh.

As for KP in Nowshehra 935ft is the elevation of the lowest point while the KBD reservoir peak water level is designed to be kept at 915 feet above the mean sea level. It means that the water level will be 20ft lower in the reservoir than the lowest point in the Nowshehra region. There is thus no chance of flooding in the Nowshehra district.

Muhammad Aized

Gujranwala

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2017