SWABI: The downstream of Tarbela Dam is no more an attraction for the visitors as its water has turned muddy, according to the people living near the Indus River.

They said that in the past people from far flung areas would come to enjoy to crystal clear water of Indus River, locally known as Abaseen, the father of rivers.

“Majority of the people, who once used to see the clear blue water of Abaseen, would want to visit it repeatedly but now it has lost the attraction,” they said.

Officials in Wapda and Ghazi Barotha hydro power project, when contacted, said that mountains of silt accumulated in the Tarbela Dam reservoir, having a length of over 90 kilometres.

Officials say it has also affected the storage capacity of the reservoir

“If someone visits Tarbela Dam in winter, he will see that water level of the reservoir is low. One can see the mountains of silt there,” an official said. He added that the problem could be controlled by constructing dams upstream of the reservoir.

“It was planned to build an upstream dam but it was delayed owing to one or another reason. It would cost us heavily in terms of power generation because the storage capacity of the reservoir is reducing,” said another official.

The official said that it posed a serious threat to the dam storage capacity and there was an urgent need for remedial measures.

In the past, the water of Indus River was so clean and eye-catching that visitors would remembers it forever. “The hygienic and clean water was a source of inspiration for the visitors from the far-flung areas,” said Usman Sher, a local resident.

However, the coolness of Abaseen water remains the same. “If a person steps in it for a few minutes, he will soon feel frostiness,” said Mudasir Khan of Sheikh Dheri village. The visitors belonging to far flung areas told this correspondent that now only the cool nature of the Indus water remained a source of attraction for them. They said that they usually came there only in summer.

The local people said that in the past they believed that the water of Abaseen was a panacea for skin diseases.

Rohal Amin of Topi said that his father had told them that whenever they suffered from any skin disease, they should go straight to the Indus River and take a bath there immediately.

“The disease would be washed away by clean water of Abaseen. Its water passes through different clean areas, having several precious herbs, which are beneficial in the treatment of skin diseases. It has remained a major source for curing skin diseases since the time of forefathers,” Mr Amin said, quoting his late father.

The owners of huts and restaurants on the brink of the river also said that the muddy water affected their business. “Earlier people would come and stay here with us for several hours. Some of them would be reluctant to leave the attractive scene. Now only fish is the main attraction for the visitors,” said Zarak Khan, an owner of a restaurant.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2014