Years old court orders, blueprints but Kalabagh Dam remains controversial
On October 14, ANP's leader Ahrar Khattak termed the KP CM's agreement regrettable
MIANWALI (Dunya News) – Governments have come and gone but issue of Kalabagh Dam persists despite court orders and legal formalities that were completed years ago.
On September 16, 1991 the Council of Common Interest (CCI) had given a go ahead to the dam in its sixth session. Interestingly, the then four provinces had approved and shown consent for construction.
In the ninth meeting of the CCI on May 9, 1998, the case was reviewed. Further interestingly both the sessions were held during Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s government. Despite the fact that CCI had green lit the project, the case had to go to the court.
Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered federal government on November 29, 2012 to start construction. However, the governments in the past several tenures seem to have catered to political interests only.
In addition to the high courts (HC), the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan was also approached in the matter as numerous pleas were filed from time to time. Replies were also sought from the government but Kalabagh Dam remains in ink till date.
It could be the case that government fears the octopus that Kalabagh Dam is that might open its tentacles again and disrupt many ongoing processes.
Sindh Chief Minister (CM), Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Qaim Ali Shah termed the said dame on October 15 a political stunt. While talking to the media after inaugurating Korangi Industrial Area’s Jam Sadiq Ali Bridge, Shah strongly criticised the raising of Kala Bagh Dam’s issue again.
Awami National Party (ANP) has cited Kalabagh Dam numerous times as anti-Pakhtun project. On the other hand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government led by CM Pervez Khattak has no objection, the reason why ANP thrashes the KP government.
Not only that, ANP’s founding fathers, Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Wali Khan had campaigned against Kalabagh Dam.
On October 14, ANP’s leader Ahrar Khattak termed the CM’s stance regrettable.
CM Khattak had said in a press conference on October 10 that KP has no objection over construction of the project. However, he called for a commission s establishment to address the provincial reservations.
Separately, the government’s latest statement on the matter states that at least seven projects including the Kalabagh Dam are under consideration. Federal Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Asif had recently told the Senate that as many as four projects namely, Winder Dam, Papin Dam, Pelar Dam and Garuk Dam were ready for construction.
