Nationalist group decries revival of Kalabagh Dam issue
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KARACHI: Amir Bhanbhro, chief of the Sindh National Party, on Tuesday asked the superior judiciary to keep the longstanding objections and reservations of the smaller provinces in sight while reviving the controversial Kalabagh Dam issue.
“An issue which had been repeatedly rejected by the elected assemblies of the three provinces unanimously, should not be taken up for the benefit of the largest province only,” said Mr Bhanbhro while speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club.
He said considering a province as the whole country did not serve justice to all universally. And, he added, if the issue was taken up for the interest of the whole country then the judiciary should visit Sindh and witness the worst water shortages in districts like Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, and Mirpurkhas etc.
“Entire Sindh has turned into a desert because of grave shortages of water. People are on streets in various cities and towns protesting against shortage of water for drinking and agriculture purposes.”
He said the situation was so grave that water was not available even to bath the dead.
“Kalabagh Dam is an issue which could harm the national unity and brotherhood if anything is decided at the cost of precious unanimity.”
He said the country was already passing through a difficult juncture when those who wanted general good for the country would not speak to the advantage of a single federating unit.
“Children of people from all the federating units are children of the nation, thus, we should consider for the better future of all children and not just those belonging to one single province,” said SNP leader.
He said the issue was already rejected at the highest forum of the Council of Common Interests in addition to repeated resolutions passed against it by the three provincial assemblies.
He said many districts of Sindh would be eroded by the seawater, lakes would be dried and millions of people would be rendered homeless and deprived of their livelihoods if Kalabagh Dam was allowed to be built.
Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2018
