ISLAMABAD, March, 14: Speakers at a seminar here on Tuesday opposed the construction of large dams in the country and termed them anti-people. The seminar titled “Benefits of large dams: myth and realities” was organized by Action Aid and Sungi Development Foundation.

The speakers were of the view that the benefits of large dams were exaggerated to the extent that they were associated with national pride and success.

Prof Dr Nawaz Hakro of Quaid-i-Azam University said the fact that who wielded the power to take decision on large dams helped one understand a great deal of the social and environmental injustices caused by large dams.

He said international funding institutions were interested only in investing and earning profits. They are least bothered about its effects on river ecology and the local population.

He said the consultants and bureaucrats had no regards to water logging and riverine cultures around the rivers like the Indus, Brahmaputra, Ganges and Nile, etc.

He said large dams led to degraded environment, impoverishment, conflicts on settlements and compensation, psychological alienation and human rights violations.

He said a highly critical report released by the World Commission on Dams in November 2000 was enough to prove that large dams often fell short of their promises. According to the report, large dams had generated less power, irrigated less land and supplied less water than projected, he added.

Ghandal Shah of Bhasha Dam Naam Namanzoor Committee said 55,000 families had been affected by the project and the people of Diamer had rejected the project as its construction had no benefit for them.

He claimed that according to the feasibility report of the dam, the powerhouse was to be located in Chilas but a federal minister from the NWFP in collusion with Wapda got it shifted to the province to get the royalty. He said it was an injustice to the people of Gilgit and Baltistan.

Ejaz Ahmad from Haripur district said 135 villages were affected by the construction of Tarbela dam and most of the affected people were still not rehabilitated.

He said the daily income of Tarbela dam was approximately Rs120 million but the local people were still living below the poverty line. —PPI