kala bagh dam

The Kalabagh dam is a proposed hydroelectric dam planned to be built on the Indus River by the Government of Pakistan. The proposed site for the dam was situated at Kalabagh in Mianwali District of the Punjab province, bordering the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The proposed construction of the Kalabagh Dam triggered a bitter controversy among the three provinces of Pakistan, namely Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Punjab has been the only province in favour of the dam. The other three provinces have expressed dissatisfaction: their provincial assemblies passed unanimous resolutions rejecting the proposed dam. Hence, the project was still under consideration on

Direct Benefits

Kalabagh with its installed capacity of 2400 MW (ultimate 3600 MW) would add to the system a very large chunk of cheap hydro-power. The energy generated at Kalabagh would be equivalent to 20 million barrels of oil per year. Kalabagh would reduce the frequency and severity of flooding along the Indus.
The overall direct benefits of Kalabagh Dam would be around Rs. 25 billion per annum, thus the investment cost of project would be repaid within a period of 9-10 years. To provide additional storage on the Indus River, and thus reduce the existing system shortfalls in irrigation requirements.
It will provide additional regulation on the River Indus, and thus provide better system control and management for supplying assured, adequate and timely irrigation water for crops.To increase Pakistan’s capability to manage its water distribution and power generation systems through the conjunctive operation of Tarbela and KBD reservoir.

MY OBSERVATION:

KBD is the only major project in the history of Pakistan, which has been most strongly opposed by the three, out of the four, provinces for various reasons. In this respect, unanimous resolutions have been passed by their elected Provincial Assembles to reject the viability of the project. Also, in the National Assembly and the Senate, the project has been strongly opposed by the elected representatives.
Apart from the technical flaws, making the construction and operation of the project an ultimate disaster, the people of the three provinces have certain reservations against its viability for the integrity of the country, and their common development.