Shelved project of Kalabagh dam
29 May, 2008
The government of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) decided to shelve the controversial Kalabagh dam project once and for all in the name of national reconciliation. It also claimed that a comprehensive approach would end load shedding after 2009.
Addressing a press conference at the Wapda house, Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said Sindh and NWFP had passed resolutions against the construction of the Kalabagh dam and, therefore, its construction could endanger the federation. The minister said funds allocated for its construction would not lapse, but would be spent on other water and power projects.
The minister said the nation had wasted a lot of time debating construction of the Kalabagh dam. “For a strong and united federation, it is better to abandon the project,” he added.
Divulging energy generation plans, he said the government had started energy generation on war footing. “By April 2009, 2,200 megawatts electricity would be added to the national grid,” he said, adding 1,000 megawatts would be generated by IPPs, 200 MW by rental plants and 1,000 MW by intrinsic resources.
“Besides, 3,000 MW will be generated by new projects,” he said, adding 500 megawatts would be added by hydel generation in a few weeks. He said the water situation had been improving, so hydel generation would be increased in a few weeks.
What do you think, have the government taken a right step towards Kalabagh dam?
By shelving this project, would the government generate enough electricity that meets the future needs?
Could the construction of Kalabagh dam endanger the federation?
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