Dams have good as well as bad impact on the ecosystem. While it is an excellent tool for flood control by storing excess water and using the same when it is needed; on the negative side, large quantities of water stored over long periods raises underground water table causing water logging and salinity.
Additionally, temperature of water, salt and oxygen distribution may change vertically as a consequence of reservoir formation and nutrient rich sediment washed down from the mountains which covers the land in times of river flooding and leaves a very fertile top soil layer when waters recede, is instead accumulated in the reservoir bottom. Both of these seriously affect fertility of the land in nearby areas.
However, according to the technical experts that I heard on the TV debates, negative effects of Kalabagh dam have been greatly exaggerated. Real reason is that main advantage of the dam will accrue to Punjab and smaller provinces would rather eat grass than let Punjab reap most of the KBs benefits.
Thus despite the fact that advantages of Kalabagh Dam far outweigh potential negative impact, KB has become a serious threat to the federation and therefore will never be built.
My dear Niaz Sahib,
As usual an excellent reply.
A minor difference though. Again just mere words nothing else.
you said and I quote: KB has become a serious threat to the federation and therefore will never be built
This is a HUGE overstatement all thanks to our irresponsible commie dominated media.
If KB is build today, or it is not built today, the "perceived" threats to our federation remain the same as far as building the damn is concerned.
In fact I'd beg to state that "by not building the dam", we are losing water supply for agri and the bi-product called electricity. Both of these have short term and long term implications that are far far greater threat to our people than the damned KBD.
Had Zardari or Musharraf in the past or NS/Zardari now go ahead and build the dam, by saying one thing. We'll haev better electricity supply, I seriously doubt, people will be going in the street shouting against KBD or any other dam or anyother scheme that brings more electricity.
Those who overhype KBD as a threat are most likey sitting in an AC room cooled by their personal generator,
or worse
many of the opponents are sitting in far far away lands of EU or USA and thus a mere little "tooti" who may make a lot of noise, but in the end they disappear like the foam in the urinal.
It is time we quit being afraid of few commies and go ahead and start building. We'll see who is "mai ka laal" to come stop the project.
The only important thing I say that Punjab should voluntarily give up the royalty. That amount is tiny compared to the benefits to the industrial and agri sector of Punjab.
peace