Kalabagh Dam Importance and impact on Pakistan

Kalabagh Dam Importance and impact on Pakistan

1.    Overview: Kalabagh dam is situated in Mianwali Punjab Pakistan at River Sindh. According to Its map it covers around 7.5km area. It covers Mostly area of Mianwali and some area of Chakwal also. It is matter of problem since 1919 when British government of India decides to make a dam here. It also cover some area of Khyber Pukhtoon Khawa.

2.    Historical Overview: In 1919 British government of India visited Mianwali and Kalabagh sight and find a natural Dam here. British Government of India decided to make a dam here. Work started on Dam. Head was Mr. Nicholson. Some other people like Baloch started a movement against this Dam. They stand up against Kalabagh dam. They stand with the view that this dam is a conspiracy of English people towards the Balochistan. Since then this Dam is pending till now.

3.    Importance: This project has a great importance for Pakistan and its people. Pakistan has now totally 30 days of water reservation for its use in future. After making of Kalabagh Dam Pakistan will increase its capacity to 45 days. Otherwise till 2025 Pakistan will have no water for ever drinking. Load sheding is yet another big problem of Pakistan. By making this dam Pakistan will make enough Electricity to run the normal life light. Total electricity cost per units is now 15-20 rupees/unit. The prices of electricity generated by Kalabagh Dam will only Rs. 3-4 per unit cost.

4.    Some Important Steps Taken Towards Kalabagh Dam: In December 2004, then President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf announced that he would build the dam to serve the larger interest of Pakistan. However, on 26 May 2008, the Federal Minister for Water and Power of Pakistan, Raja Pervez Ashraf, said that the "Kalabagh Dam would not be constructed" and that the project had been cancelled due to "opposition from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and other stakeholders, the project was no longer feasible". In 2010 after the worst floods in Pakistani history, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaf Raza Gilani, stated flood damage would be minimized if the Kalabagh Dam were built.

5.    Dam Banao Mulk Bachao Movement (2018): 

After the creation of Kashan ganga dam in India (2018) worsened the situation of water in Pakistan. Kashan Ganga Dam was construct at one of river coming to Pakistan from India. Which was part of Pakistan since 1960 (Indus Water Treaty). Seeing this situation it was mandatory to be unite for Kalabagh Dam. Hence a movement named “Dam Banao Mulk Bachao” was started by youth of Pakistan. It grows day by day. All news Channel publish this movement.

6.    Impact of Movement: Due to this movement youth of Pakistan got a platform to stand for Kalabagh dam. Many people take part in this movement and hence a new slogan named “Dam Banao Vote Lo” rises. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar takes a Sou Moto notice and set date for hearing of Kalabagh dam case. The hearing of this case is set on every Saturday and Sunday in Peshawar and Karachi Registery.

7.    Dam and spillways

Type of dam	Earth fill Dam (zoned fill embankment with clay core)
Impounds	Indus River
Height	79 m (259 ft)
Length	3,350 m (10,991 ft)
Reservoir
Active capacity	7.52 km3(6,100,000 acre⋅ft)
Inactive capacity	9.7 km3(7,900,000 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area	110,500 sq mi (286,000 km2)
Power Station
Hydraulic head	170 ft (52 m)
Turbines	12 x 300 MW
Installed capacity	3,600 MW (max. planned)
Annual generation	11,400 GWh