Building larger water reservoirs
THE government has a penchant for making small dams instead of mega hydroelectric projects like the Kalabagh dam. It has been reported (Nov 3) that 20 small dams built by Small Dams Organisations in Punjab during the last 10 years from 2000 to 2010 have badly failed to achieve their targets.
These were intended to irrigate 30,000 acres of farmland but, in fact, they irrigated only 2.044 acres that is 7.4 per cent of the target. Faulty design and mismanagement have been reported to be the main reasons for the failure of the small dams built at a cost of Rs2.62 billion. This ought to be an eye – opener for those who prefer mini dams over a single mega hydroelectric dam that could provide both water and power to farmers and industrialists.
The government ought to shift its emphasis from small dams to a large mega dam that could meet engineering standards and deliver services to the nation.
DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
Fix the royalty payment method.
Pay it in proportion to area inundated by the dam to provinces rather than the location of the power house.
Do that and see how large dams become non-political suddenly.
No point in wasting money on either large or small dams let the loan money be transfered to foreign personal accounts. Awam are used to of living in hell, they keep on voting for PPP/ANP/MQM with dreaming for the day that never comes!!!!
strange that all letters in favor of big dams seem to emanate from lahore…………..
The mega dam site and design should carry no objections from all provinces like once envisaged Kalabagh dam did.
You quoted “Faulty design and mismanagement” to be the main reasons for the failure of those 20 small dams. How do we make sure that the construction of 1 large dam does not also suffer from faulty design and mismanagement before spending tax payers’ hard earned money only to be gifted with another dam operating at 7.4% efficiency? Just curious.
The construction of Kala bagh dam is the necesity of the nation which is not being made due to pressure of so the called politicians of the country. The governing party has no interest but to secure and maintain its tenure of regime.