disadvantages are:

o Dams tend to be extremely expensive to build and when a

decision is taken to build one anyway, it must adhere to a very high
standard.
o And other point to be kept in mind is that since the cost is so
high for dam construction, it goes to mean that they must operate for
many decades to become profitable enough.
o You must have heard of the rare flooding related to big dams. But
this flooding of large areas of land means that the natural environment
is destroyed.
o Relocation is another big concern. People living in villages and
towns that are in the valley that could be flooded, must move out.
Hence, they lose their farms and businesses. In some countries, people
are forcibly removed so that hydro-power plant constructions can go
ahead. This happens to be an ethical concern.
o The building of large dams can cause serious geological damage,
for instance, the building of the Hoover Dam in the USA triggered a
number of earth quakes and has depressed the earths surface at its
location. This is an alarming matter.
o Although modern planning and design of dams has reduced the
possibility of certain disasters occurring.

Disturbance of habitat
The formation of large and huge dams destroys the living beings around
them. Local life is disturbed as human cant live in such a flooded area and
plants are destroyed. People living nearby have to relocate.

Installation costs
Although the effective cost is zero but the manufacturing and building a dam
and installation of the turbines is very costly due to which many countries do
not employ this alternative source of energy. If the initial cost had been less;
then it would have used more commonly. Its construction requires a lot of
human capital and labor. Its maintenance is also very costly.
Limited use
As the hydroelectric power is produced by the water which depend on the
yearly rain falls so only those areas can use this method which receives a
good amount of rainfall water because this method needs a huge reservoir
of water.

Divert natural waterway

Dams and rivers collect water for the production of electricity which alters
the natural system of water flow thus depriving houses of the water they
need.

Effects on agriculture
Making dams on rivers affect the amount, quality and temperature of water
that flow in streams which has drastic effects on agriculture and drinking
water.

Fish killing
The water while flowing through the dam collects nitrogen which can
damage and also kills fish. They can also damage the reproduction of fishes
thus eliminating the whole species of fishes.

Disputes between people

Changing the river pathway and shortage of water can cause serious
disputes between people.
Breaking of dams
Many dams which were built for industrial use or for mills are not now used
and occupying a great space but they cant be broken or removed as it would
cause serious flooding. This would not only affect the humans but also many
buildings and property.

Deposition of silt
So the research is going on decrease its disadvantages and to make it
happen on a large scale.

The controversy regarding the Kalabagh Dam could be a result

of lack of relevant information and distrust among the
provinces. Two glaring examples to prove my point should
suffice

1) Sui Gas has been used for over 50 years but abject poverty in
the Sui area and the angry local population make things
difficult.
2) Chashma Barrage was completed 35 years ago without
rehabilitating thousands of landless tenants, poor farmers and their
families uprooted from the katcha areas. The barrage has provided
two mighty canals one to irrigate south Punjab and the other D. I.
Khan without sharing irrigation water with Mianwali. It is also
generating 185MW hydel power but Mianwali faced the worst
voltage fluctuations for several years, even before the present power
crisis. So benefits worth billions of rupees are being derived from
Sui Gas and Chashma Barrage every year without sharing them with
the local population.
As far as the Kalabagh Dam goes, it will have disadvantages that
will require remedial measures.
In Punjab, the local population of the submerged and lake
surrounded towns and villages between the dam and Attock Bridge
will be uprooted.
The strategic rail 1ink between North West and South Pakistan via
Mari Indus will be lost forever.
The busy and strategic road and rail link between Punjab and KP
through Khushalgarh Bridge will be disrupted.
The local population of lowlands surrounding the lake too is likely
to be uprooted due to salinity and water logging.
Output of the hydel power plant at Barotha may be adversely
affected, depending upon the height of the dam. Therefore, various
advantages and disadvantages of the Kalabagh Dam should be
identified for logical comparisons.

The majestic River Indus originates at 5183 metres above sea level in the glaciers

of northern slopes of Kailash Parbat in Tibet. Starting as a tricklet, it collects

rainwater and melting snow from a catchment area of 940.000 sq km to become

one of the mightiest rivers of the world, ten times bigger than Colorado River and

twice as large as the Nile. On its long voyage of more than 3,000 km it is
augmented by 10 major rivers __ Kabul, Swat, Kunhar, Haro and Soan in the

northern Frontier Province and Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Bias at Panjnad

in the province of Punjab. The ferocious Indus, more than a million cusecs at its

peak flood time, passes through 500 km of Sindh province to disperse in the salt

water of Arabian Sea. This large body of water varying widely between 200 to 120

million acre feet (MAF), depending upon the quantum of rainfall and snowfall in

the Himalayas, provides agricultural and water needs of 130 million people of

Pakistan and lately a large population of India. But for the province of Sindh it has

a unique and significant presence. Flowing through the whole length of Sindh and

literally bisecting it River Indus inundates, a swatch of land, at an average 4 km

wide, during its peak flood season (July 20 to Sep 30). For this strip of about 2

million acres, 595,000 acres of which are dense forests and 600,000 acres rich

grazing land, River Indus is the only life line providing it with rich nutrient and

moisture.

At the ends of its travel the river cascades into a delta where, over the centuries, it

has developed a 650,000 acre thick mangrove forest which sustains exotic and

colourful life in plants, reptiles and mammals. All of this, and much more is under

threat now. Since 1859 when through upper Bari Doab Canal water was first drawn

from Ravi, 19 barrages and 43 canal heads with 48 offtakes have been built on

Indus River system creating world's largest contiguous man-made system

consisting of 61,000 km of canals and 105,000 water courses, irrigating 35 million

acres of land. When in 1960 Indus Basin Treaty was signed between India and

Pakistan, India was apportioned the exclusive use of Ravi, Sutlej and Bais and

further right on the water of remaining 3 rivers to irrigate 1.3 million acres of land.

In compensation Pakistan was helped to build three storage dams: Mangla on

Jhelum river for storage of 6.4 MAF and Tarbela and Chashma on river Indus for

storing 11.9 MAF and 1.8 MAF, respectively. The effect of the loss of three rivers

to India and demand of further 114 MAF for irrigation needs of 4 provinces of

Pakistan has reduced the once mighty Indus to a trickle when it passes through

Sindh. Kalabagh dam While the kutcha area and deltaic eco-system is under threat

of their survival, government of Pakistan and Punjab and the most populous and

powerful province, wish to build a mega dam professedly to generate 3600 MW

electric power and store 6.1 MAF water but to actually draw a further 6 MAF

water through 2 canals to irrigate 2 million acres. The consequences of Kalabagh

will be felt severely by Frontier Province: 1. 182,000 acres of productive land will

be lost under the reservoir. 2. 34,000 people will be displaced (with another 59,000

in Punjab). 3. Nowshera, a sizeable city of Frontier Province, will be threatened

(Nowshera town itself will stand 24 feet below on the height of Kalabagh storage)

with, at worst, horrible termination if the dykes break, or at best, serve degradation
of land by water-logging in about 20 years times. Sindh the worst sufferer of

degradation of nature

1. Availability of Water: As lower riparian, Sindh has suffered the most due to

ill-planned and ill-conceived withdrawals of water from Indus river system.

Despite much tinkering of figures by those who favour Kalabagh dam, fact

remains that measured at rim stations of the 3 western rivers (Indus at

Kalabagh, Chenab at Mangla and Jhelum at Marala), the water availability 4

years out of 5 (80 percent probability) is 123.59 MAF. The water accord

between provinces of Pakistan signed on 15.3.1991, apportions 114.35 MAF

for their needs and the system losses (occurring in the bed of the rivers)

projected by WAPDA is 10 MAF (much below the actual system losses of

16.2 MAF calculated by WAPDA between 1977-91, after Tarbela dam was

constructed). The balance is negative 0.76 MAF flowing into the sea.

2. The inundated kutcha lands:

The Indus inundates an average 4-km wide strip of kutcha land of about

million acres, 595,000 acres of which are thick forests and another 600,000

rich grazing lands. This strip husbands a substantial number of cattle, goats

and fowls and economically sustains about one million people. All this is

now threatened.

i) The progressive decline of water over the last 50 years has led to soil
erosion and accretion so that succession of fresh plants is considerably on

the decline. The riverain forest is slowly but surely dying.

ii) Many plants specifically grow in kutcha areas. One such species,

populous Enphratica, the timber of which is exclusively used for Sindh's

famous craft, Janjhi (bright, colourful furniture) is fast approaching

extinction.

iii) Loss of moisture coupled with wind erosion has caused soil degradation

and consequent desertification. No survey has been conducted recently but it

is estimated that 2 million heads of cattle are reared on 600,000 acres of the

grazing lands of kutcha. Further degradation will extract enormous cost in

the shape of loss of dairy and meat products and economic and social well

being of a million people.

iv) With recession of water comes drying up of wells and ponds in kutcha

area, leaving no water for human or animal consumption.

3) The natural lakes

i) The changing of River Indus over millions of years has created thousands

of lakes and ponds in Thatta and Badin, two southern districts of Sindh.

Inundation of River Indus and consequent availability of water in canals

helps fill up these lakes.

There is growing awareness among people to commercially raise fish in such

ponds and many have started doing so. With shortage of water in Indus, a

promising source of protein generation as well as economic well being of so

many people will not materialise.

ii) Sindh is home to some of Asia's largest natural lakes, the Manchchar,

Haleji, Hadero, Keenjhar and Chotiari. Manchchar the 700 sq km. lake in

Dadu, that can store 1 MAF, and Chotiari in Sanghar that can store 0.4 MAF

are filled through inundation of Indus.

These lakes are winter and summer home to thousands of migratory birds

from Kazakhstan and Siberia, who use what is known as "Indus Fly Way" to

fly thousands of kilometres in a marvelous and awe-inspiring phenomena so

as to beat the severe Siberian winter. All this is threatened to be lost for ever.

The 222 type of birds that are so far reportedly seen in Haleji, Hadero,

Meenjhar (Kalari) and Chotiari ranging from Pelicans to Pintails and from

Black Drango to white swams make these lakes a bird watcher's paradise

and have been declared a wild life sanctuary by the government of Sindh.

4. Mangrove forests are not "wastelands"

The mangrove forest in Indus delta is spread over 650,000 acres and is the

6th largest mangrove forest in the world. Fed through the nutrient carried by

100 million tons of silt by river Indus each year, the mangrove estuaries are
the most productive forests, protecting and nurturing thousands of botanic,

aquatic and wildlife species.

According to World Conservation Union (IUCN 1991), "The mangroves are

the principal components of the delta ecosystem, without them and the

nutrients they recycle and the protection they provide, the other components

of the ecosystem will not survive __ mangrove estuaries provide ideal

nursery grounds for many commercial fish species specially prawns."

The other wildlife species supported by mangroves is propoises, jackals,

wildboars, reptiles, migratory fowl bird, 3 species of dolphins of the

mangrove habitat is destroyed then the continued existence in the Indus delta

of all those will be threatened, (IUCN Korangi ecosystem Project 1991).

5. Economic significance of mangrove forests

The mangrove estuaries are 4-5 times more productive than tropical

estuaries without mangroves (IUCN). Compared to an agricultural land-

growing wheat, acre for acre, mangrove is 3 times more productive.

Significant economic benefits of mangrove are:

I) Timber resources for fuel wood and buildings.

ii) Fodder and grazing for cattle, goats and camels.

iii) Fisheries within the delta area.

iv) Fisheries for species using delta as nursery.

It should be noted that Pakistan earned 2.25 billion rupees from the fish

production of 0.4 m tons (1989 figures) most of which pass some part of its

life in the mangrove estuaries of Indus Delta especially prawns.

v) Coastal protection from erosion.

vi) Employment of approximately 100,000 people and sustenance of their

families in the Indus and its deltaic fishing industry.

6. Health problems

There are about 40 major cities located on the banks of Indus or its

tributaries. The raw sewerage of which is discharged directly into the water

of Indus. Added to the decreasing quantity of water flowing in the river, the

population has crested on epidemic like situation in Sindh where water borne

diseases have registered a 200 percent increase in the last 2 decades.

An epidemic of eye disease known as viral conjunctivitis originates from

Karachi and ravages the whole country almost every year. This viral

infection is directly attributed to polluted water.

Respect nature: There is increasing awareness among the people of the

world that nature has established a Blanca of elements that must not be

disturbed in the name of development unless advantage of such a

development far outweigh the disadvantages.

Out of the 40,000 small and big dams erected throughout the world, more
than half of which are in China, many have brought prosperity and well

being to the people but in the case of most mega dam the result is

destruction of ecosystem, pollution of water and degradation of soil that

enormously outweigh the advantages.

All those favouring Kalabagh dam must know that there is hard scientific

evidence, collected in the United States and available to any one, that

destruction of forests and mangroves leads to destructive erosion, loss of

bio-filtration function and drastic reduction of biological productivity.

Natural forest and mangrove forest development is an incremental process,

that takes 50 to 60 years for the trees to mature. When the soil is removed

through erosion, a nutrient recycling becomes difficult due to shortage of

fresh water, reforestation will be much more time consuming and the forests

start to die.

In the United States, Colorado rivers used to flow into Gulf of California.

With the construction of huge Hoover dam and myriad other hydro electric

dams, the flow to the sea disappeared with horrific results wiping out entire

Mexican fishing villages and denying a substantial part of northwest Mexico

of its share of Colorado's water, The United States will be making reparation

to Mexico forever.

There are alternatives to building mega dams

The reasons advanced for building Kalabagh dam are:

(i) Production of 3600 MW of electric power and

(ii) Storing 6.1 MAF water, at a cost of US $ 5.0 billion (1987 cost). This

cost has escalated to US $ 8.0 billion in Oct, 1996.

So far power generation is concerned, it has been established around the

world that small storage dams and power generation units are much more

feasible and maintainable than mega dams. WAPDA has estimated potential

of 30,000 MW on streams and rivers up north. Ghazi-Barotha is such a

project that can produce 1450 MW and is a run of the river project that does

not propose storing water. Other identified sites are Dasu, Bhasha, Thakot,

Skardu and Banji.

About storing water, all dams so far built, or proposed to be built, on Indus

River System, are such that they will store about 150 MAF water in flood

season for release in the lean period of the same year for wheat sowing

(Rabi) season. Addition of 6.1 MAF of Kalabagh is expected to appreciably

increase availability of water. However all dams are drained by 31st

December of the same year.

Super floods occur in Indus River Systems once in every 5 or 6 years when

more than a million cusecs water flows out of sea. If there were a dam to

store this water, most of Pakistan's problems concerning water availability

would be over. Aswan high dam in Egypt can store 124 MAF of water and

can withstand 9 consecutive lean year (1978-1987). Unfortunately no site for

such a dam has been identified in Pakistan.

Water conservation strategy

Out of the 114.35 MAF apportioned to all the 4 provinces of Pakistan 50 to

60 percent or roughly 60 MAF, is lost in the system (15 MAF is lost in river

beds, 10 MAF through canal embankments and the rest, 25 to 35 MAF, in

water courses and on farms). This percolation of water renders 100,000 acres

of farms into a water-logged waste every single year.

Although losses through river beds cannot be stopped, at a fraction of the

money earmarked for Kalabagh dam (US $ 5.0 billion at 1987 price) the

entire 105,000 water courses in the irrigation network of Pakistan can be

lined and crash training programme mounted for farmers in the proper

leveling of farms and in water management, reclaiming at least 10 to 12

MAF double the storage capacity of Kalabagh. The added benefit will be the

appreciable reduction in water-logging and consequent degradation of soil.

Alternate energy resources in Pakistan

1. Sixth most populous country- estimated population in 2010 over 169 million . Occupies a
crossroad position between South Asia, Central Asia and Middle East. Has 1,046
kilometers coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south. Bordering
Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in northeast. Tajikistan also lies
very near, separated by a narrow Wakhan corridor. Semi-industrialized economy which
mainly encompasses textiles, chemicals, food processing and agriculture. 3
2. 4. 4
3. 5. 5
4. 6. 6
5. 7. Pakistan needs about 20,000MW electricity per day. Presently, it can produce about
11, 500 MW per day The demand exceeds supply and hence load- shedding is a
common phenomenon through frequent power shutdowns. If the country wishes to
continue its economic development and improve the quality of life of its people, it has to
make serious efforts towards framing a coherent energy policy. 7
6. 8. Uneven distribution of energy supplies led to significant vulnerabilities. Sabotage of
natural resources through warfare or terrorism especially gas fields. Accidents and natural
disasters. Most of its energy demand is being met with either Hydro power or thermal
units. Spending a very large amount of foreign exchange to purchase the furnace. The
gas reserves already start depleting and oil price is increasing globally. 8
7. 9. 9
8. 10. Hydropower Wind Energy Coal Reserves Solar Energy Biogas 10
9. 11. 11
10. 12. The feasibility study should include following field work. Detailed Mapping of the
area Topographic study of the area Seismic refraction study River flow data
Weather data containing, Temperatures, pressures, rain humidity Environmental study
Social impact Wild life and fish study Identification of stake holders of the area 12
11. 13. The wind map developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), USA in
collaboration with USAID, has indicated a potential of 346,000 MW in Pakistan. The first
requirement of conducting feasibility study is to install a wind mast. The following issues
 should be discussed detail 1. Birds collision or alteration of their migration routes 2.
Noise impact 3. Flickering 13
12. 14. Pakistan has the 7th largest coal reserve in the world and we only produce 0.2% of
electricity from it! A Single Thar coal reserve of Sindh is about 850 Trillion Cubic Feet.
Just 2% usage of Thar coal can produce 20,000 Mega Watts of electricity for next 40 years,
without any single second of Load Shedding. However, the aspect of Pollution should be
kept in mind but coal is one of the cheapest ways to produce electricity, thats why countries
like Australia produce 77% of their electricity from coal. 14
13. 15. Solar energy has excellent potential in areas of Pakistan that receive high levels of
solar radiation throughout the year. The country receives an average of about 19 Mega
Joules per square meter of solar energy. Presently, not enough work or research being
done on this potential. This is a great aspect especially for villages which are not
connected to the national grid and are deprived of electricity altogether. 15
14. 16. Pakistan has almost 3,000 MW power generation potential in sugar industry through
biogas, but it is hardly producing some 700MW. Pakistan has almost 159 million animals
that produce almost 652 million kilogram of manure daily from cattle and buffalo only, which
can be used to generate 16.3 million-cubic-meters biogas per day and 21 million tones of bio
fertilizer per year. A biogas unit of 10-cubic-meter size is anticipated to save almost
Rs92,062 per annum on account of conventional fuels spent. 16
15. 17. Despite all the potentials indicated; I think more focus should be given to renewable
such as Solar, Biogas and Wind energies. 7876 out of 40,000 of un-electrified villages
cannot be connected to the national gird for another 20 years due to their distance from the
national grid, due to lack of technical and economical facilities available. Solar panels can
be installed in individual villages, according to their demands. Those villages which have
more manure produced can be benefited from biogas plants; more jobs would also be
created for people. 17
16. 18. Due to the broadness of this project I would like to narrow down the number of villages
to a few for my research and final proposal especially in Sindh and Balochistan province.
These two provinces get the most of the Solar radiation. I have to further research to
indicate the actual number of villages I am going to choose and propose the Solar energy
project to. More research is required in, cost estimation, risk planning, communication
planning. 18
17. 19. After this research is completed; I hope to propose this to Govt.of Pakistan. I believe
that Pakistan can be proved to be a really good prospective territory for investments for
foreign Solar energy focused companies. If all goes according to the plan; I expect I would
be able to give collected data into physical form which would be done by installation of the
technologies identified and operation. For both the economic and social benefit of the local
community, people would be given trainings for operation, monitoring and maintenance. 19
18. 20. A few of the projects benefits would be that people would have; Access to electricity
Access to communication & information facilities Access to new technology Improved
living conditions Access to safe drinking water Improved health conditions More
employment opportunities and increased income Poverty alleviation More working hours
20