ISLAMABAD, June 14: Chairman of the parliamentary committee on water resources Senator Nisar Memon has said that a panel of foreign experts has declared the $6.7 billion Bhasha dam as the 'best choice' on technical grounds and human displacement rate but the $5.6billion Kalabagh dam could still be preferred for other reasons.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, Mr Memon said a meeting of four chief ministers would be held after June 22 to try to evolve a consensus on the construction of a dam.

He said a presentation would later be given jointly to the president, the prime ministers, the water and power minister, the Senate chairman and the National Assembly speaker to seek their assistance in forging a consensus on the issue.

Mr Memon said water had become a political issue and there were a lot of reservations in the minds of the people which could only be removed by bringing hard facts before them.

He said a Wapda team briefed the parliamentary committee on various aspects of Kalabagh, Bhasha, Akhori and Katzara Skardu dams, besides Thal and Kachhi canals. He said there were three dams before the committee for a decision, Kalabagh, Bhasha and Akhori. The cost of Kalabagh dam is $5.65 billion, Bhasha $6.7 billion and Akhori $1.6 billion.

Kalabagh dam would have a storage capacity of 6.1 million acre feet and a power generation capacity of 3,600mw, he said and added that its feasibility study and design were complete and technically it was considered feasible for construction.

The Bhasha dam would have a storage capacity of 7.3maf and power generation capacity of 4,500mw. Its feasibility study had been reviewed and declared as 'best choice' on technical grounds by a panel of experts from France, Germany and Norway, Mr Memon said and added that the panel was appointed by the government of Pakistan.

Bhasha dam would be situated in Chilas and there were no signs of volcanic activity at its actual site, he said and added that volcanic activity had been identified within the 40km radius of the project site.

Akhori dam would have a storage capacity of 6maf but its power generation capacity was just 600mw. Its feasibility study would be ready by April 2005. The cost estimates of Katzara Skardu dam had not been finalized but its storage capacity was estimated at 35maf and power generation capacity at 35,000mw. It pre-feasibility study would be completed by June 2005.

Mr Memon said that Kalabagh dam had no logistic problem, while Bhasha dam would face some logistic difficulties. Akhori had a few logistic problems and Katzara Skardu had a number of logistic problems.

The construction of Kalabagh dam could be started by 2005, Bhasha dam by 2007 and Akhori by 2008. From the point of view of power supply arrangements, Kalabagh dam was ideally located, while Bhasha dam had some problems, he added.

Kalabagh dam would displace 120,000 people, Bhasha 24,000 and Akhori 49,300, he added. Mr Memon said the committee had asked questions relating to all these projects and sought a written reply from the Wapda team within a week's time. Once it received answers arrived, the parliamentary committee would start preparing its interim report, he added.

The report would be presented to the president, the prime minister, the chairman and speaker of the both houses of parliament, the water and power minister and the four chief ministers later this month.

Responding to a question, Mr Memon said so far no consensus had been achieved on the question of the construction of a dam because every province had its own point of opinion and position.

He said the parliamentary committee would submit its final report to the government after submission of the report on water availability situation by the technical committee led by Mr A.N.G. Abbasi. The technical committee would meet on June 21 to finalize its report, he said.