Country needs 87 dams to generate 65,000MW power, say experts

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of declining per capita water availability, Pakistan needs to go ahead construction of dams on 87 identified sites with the capacity to generate 65000MW electricity and 53 million acre feet (MAF) storage capacity instead of focusing only on controversial Kalabagh Dam, water experts said.
A roundtable discussion on “Water Security Challenges in Pakistan” was organised by Centre for Policy Studies and COMSATS Institute for Information Technology during this week. Rector, CIIT, Dr. Syed Junaid Zaidi said in his welcome address that the need of the hour is to generate a societal debate to resolve the water related issues.
Imtiaz Qazalbash, formerly chief Engineer Wapda said that unfortunately debate remains around a controversial Kalabagh project but we had identified 87 major hydroelectric projects of 65000MW with 53 million acre feet storage MAF in the Planning Commission. These projects need to be focused, he added.
Key note address was delivered by former Agriculture Minister Nawab Muhammad Yusuf Talpur and Member, Standing Committee of National Assembly on Water and Power.
While opposing Kalabagh dam, he said that when there was no water available so there was no need to construct controversial dams. He said that due to the unforeseen consequences in India and USA the hydrological cycle has been disturbed leading to various climatic changes.
In Jharkand in Mahrashtra, there are 17 dams on one river and all of them dried up. We have two major dams—Mangla and Tarbela while Kalabagh dam was not implemented for various reasons. Thus, water security cycle requires a new look to resolve this issue.
Dr. Talat Anwar, Adviser, COMSATS highlighted that country is heading toward a water crisis, if timely actions are not taken. Pakistan’s current water availability has declined to 1100 cubic meters per person from 5000 cubic meters in 1951. The country’s water storage capacity is limited to only 30-day supply, well short of the recommended 1000 days. He said that country faces economic loss of $30-35 billion up to 14% of GDP per annum because of inadequate water storage capacity and water losses from within watercourses and between canal heads and watercourses.
While water is essential for life, and livelihood in agriculture and industry, the government is neglecting water sector and allocating huge budgetary resources to roads and highways including projects like metro buses. There is a need to set the priorities right in order to save the country from floods and droughts in future.
Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Chairman, PCRWR said that we need to increase storage capacity and improve water governance by constructing small and large dams, improve the surface water governance with proper pricing, legislate and restrict indiscriminate groundwater abstraction. Other panelists Dr. Shahid Zia, a representative and water expert from PTI and Istehqaq Ahmed, Chief Engineer, Wapda emphasised the government to accelerate its efforts for setting up new water reservoirs.