‘New dams vital to end energy crisis’

LAHORE
Water crisis which would be worse than the energy crisis is going to happen in the country and the government and the other departments concerned should evolve a plan to protect economy, public and national sovereignty.
These views were expressed by the speakers at Jang Economic Session on ‘Energy Crisis - Permanent Solution and Role of Public-Private Sector’. The panellists were Sikandar M Khan, Ahmed Khan Bhatti, Dr Sohail Aftab Qureshi, Huma Aziz and Rao Tamseel and hosted by Sikandar Lodhi.
Sikandar M Khan said industry and employment was badly affected by the energy crisis while the water crisis was going to emerge as water table of the Punjab districts was depleting. He said the construction of new dams was vital to overcome energy crisis and avoid water shortage. He said the political leadership could resolve Kalabagh Dam issue. He called for dependence on local coal for power generation while coal generation plants should be installed at coal producing areas. He said problems could be solved by empowering competent, honest and professional people.
Ahmed Khan Bhatti said the government should make long term plans to counter water and energy crisis. He said results of privatisation were was not encouraging so there was a need to improve efficiency of public sector enterprises in stead of selling them. He said why the government was allergic to appointing professionals in energy sector.
He said power generation could be increased by installing small turbines at canals while burden from hydel could be reduced by shifting to tube wells and using solar energy in domestic sector, and for this the government should provide soft loans to people to produce power.
Dr Sohail Aftab said the energy demand was growing by 10 per cent annually while its production was declining. He said water crisis could emerge and the government was not making plans to avoid the water crisis. He said the government should accept its mismanagement and incompetence which was causing a new crisis everyday. He called for the construction of Kalabagh, Bahsha and all viable dams.
Huma Aziz said the energy crisis was getting bad to worse and petrol crisis destroyed the economy.
She said Kalabagh Dam should have constructed in Zia or Benazir regime. She believed public sector institutions were not weak, but officials and the administration were incompetent and unable to implement the policies.
Rao Tamseel said power generation should be increased to control energy crisis. He said solar power generation should be encouraged by the government and there should be focus on energy and water sector projects instead of focussing on road network projects.