Former Wapda chairman and member Technical Committee on Water Resources, Shamsul Mulk on Sunday said that construction of Kalabagh Dam is vital for the country's progress and prosperity. Talking to PTV he said, "Kalabagh dam is imperative for the progress and prosperity of the country and its opposition will inflict great loss."
Presently, he said the Wapda is purchasing electricity at Rs 2.50 per unit from thermal power projects, while the actual cost of producing electricity from Tarbela (water resource) is only Rs 0.16 per unit.
In the coming days cost of producing thermal power, which is the bulk of Pakistan's electricity, is likely to become more expensive, he added.
The opposition to the Kalabagh Dam, he said was either because of ignorance of the people or there were some vested interests involved, otherwise there was no harm to any province if the project was completed.
The dam would help reduce the price of electricity which would be shared by all the people of the country, he said.
"This is wrong and baseless that the project is detrimental to any province," he said.
Shamsul Mulk said that in view of looming threat of water shortage, immediate measures would have to be taken.
With the passage of time, he said, water demand is increasing while its availability is decreasing due to silting.
"In the coming years the country may face worst water shortage, if the issue is not timely addressed and work for large reservoirs is not started," he observed.
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