Kalabagh Dam, six other water reservoirs being planned: Asif

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif told the Senate on Tuesday that seven water reservoir projects, including the controversial Kalabagh Dam, were under consideration.
In a written reply to a question by PML-N Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, the minister also said that the detailed design and tender documents of the Kalabagh Dam had been completed since 1988 and the implementation/ construction work on the project could be started once a decision was taken by the government. He pointed out that four water projects, including the Pelar Dam, Papin Dam, Winder Dam and Garuk Dam, were ready for implementation.
The minister noted that five projects were under implementation, namely Darawat dam, Nai Gaj Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, Naulong Dam and Diamer Basha Dam.Asif conceded it was a fact that during the monsoon season, the unused quantum of water flowed to the sea because of water storage constraints and the average (1976-2015) quantum of water annually escaping to the sea was 29.30 million acre feet (MAF).
The minister revealed that Wapda had prepared a comprehensive plan to take water during the high flow season and utilise the same during the lean season for agriculture and the generation of electricity and then he referred to projects that included the Kalabagh Dam, Akhori Dam and Shyok Dam.
Responding to queries by the treasury and opposition senators on the Mina tragedy and its aftermath, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said that according to the latest information, the death toll of Pakistani pilgrims had hit 99, whereas 70 of these had been identified and 45 wounded discharged while two were still under treatment there.
During his statement, the opposition senators walked out of the House to protest what they alleged the government’s apathy towards the Mina tragedy victims and their loved ones.The Senate Chairman, Mian Raza Rabbani, referred the matter to the Senate Committee on Religious

Affairs for deliberations.
The minister claimed the media had not shared the facts with the nation, as they reported 500 Pakistanis missing whereas, initially, there were about 200, who were reportedly untraced.About identification and handing over the dead bodies, he said they had met the Saudi minister concerned who had issued directives but their system was extremely complicated.
He said some Pakistanis had been arrested by the Saudi authorities for illegally performing the pilgrimage. He said majority of the Hajis, who died there were usually buried there as per an agreement with the Saudi authorities.
About an investigation into the incident, the minister said they had no knowledge and awaited the outcome of the ongoing investigation being carried out by the Saudi government.The minister said that Haj arrangements were the responsibility of the Saudi government and also pointed out that the tragedy took place not at the site of stoning the Satan but at Road 204.
He said if there was any fault on the side of the Haj mission, he would take responsibility for that. He also referred to a statement by a Saudi prince that they would not allow any country to meddle in the probe into the Mina tragedy.
Earlier, other senators who raised questions, included Senators Saleh Shah from Fata, Sitara Ayaz and Shahi Syed of ANP, Farhatullah Babar of PPP, Usman Kakar and Sardar Azam of PkMAP and Kenneth Williams. Some of these senators alleged that the martyred pilgrims were buried with bulldozer.
One senator blamed a Saudi prince for the stampede while another demanded resignation of Sardar Yousaf. Rabbani wanted to know how Iran and India managed to take the bodies of their Hajis back home. On this, the minister said that they had no such agreement with Saudi Arabia, like the one Pakistan had.“If Saudi and Pakistan authorities fail to trace the missing pilgrims, should we forget them,” wondered the Senate chairman.