The government has finally started building the $ 12 billion Diamer-Bhasha Dam, 30 years after completion of

its first feasibility report, a long time indeed. If the decision had been taken well in time, the country’s

state would have been far different from what it is now. The world’s highest concrete dam with a height of

272 metres is being built on the Indus River about 300 kilometres upstream of Tarbela Dam. It would generate

4,500 MW electricity and store 8.1 million acre feet of water. The dam will take over 12 years to complete

and then start benefiting the energy-starved and water-short country.

Some would say that there are other projects, even faster ones, which would compensate for the water and

electricity shortfall quicker than the Diamer-Bhasha dam, such as the Kalabagh Dam (KBD). The KBD if begun in

the middle of Musharraf’s tenure would have partially bridged our current shortfall of five to six thousand

megawatts of electricity by adding 3,600 MW to the system. But even that would have been a high price for

less load shedding given that Sindh would arguably have been lost to the country as the province, being the

lower riparian, has been the strongest opponent of KBD on a number of accounts. Rejected by the assemblies of

three smaller provinces, this proposed dam has become too politicised over the decades. Stress on building

this dam, a hotbed of conflicts, can easily cause fissures harming the unity of the country. The issue of

water distribution among the provinces already keeps them at loggerheads even in the presence of the Indus

River System Authority (IRSA), set up in 1992 to ensure equitable distribution of water among the provinces.

In this backdrop, the initiation of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam is indeed welcome. Despite the reservations of

Sindh on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, relative consensus on its construction exists. However, there are a few

concerns that surround this under construction dam as well. The dam is being built in an extremely sensitive

seismic zone. Two studies have been carried out, making suggestions to deal with the earthquake hazards that

in the presence of a dam can multiply destruction in case a natural calamity hits the region. This dam led to

widespread protests in Gilgit-Baltistan as its people feared that it would affect the social, economic and

ecological balance in the region and would inundate 32 villages of Diamer district, rendering thousands of

people homeless. A controversy was raised between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the issue of

royalty. However, the government has been successful in solving these issues by offering equal compensation

to the landowners and bringing the two major stakeholders together on a royalty sharing formula.

The construction of the project spreads over more than a decade. Just the construction of road infrastructure

to the rugged mountainous location would take three years to facilitate moving heavy machinery up to the

site. Nevertheless, on the touchstone of its Internal Rate of Return (18 percent) and per annum break up of

the total $ 12 billion construction cost, the feasibility of the project is beyond question. At present,

construction of this dam is undoubtedly a wise decision as the country’s water and energy requirements are

increasing. The capacity of Mangla and Tarbela Dam has declined over the years because of siltation. Diamer-

Bhasha will increase the life of Tarbela Dam, reducing its silting problem. However, the government still

needs to take steps on a war footing to meet the existing electricity needs that are hindering the country’s

progress in every walk of life. *

SECOND EDITORIAL: Keeping heritage alive

The ancient sites of a country, reflecting its age-old civilisational traditions, are worthy of preservation.

To think that there existed before us a society of people centuries ago and to envisage a way of life quite

distinct from our own is a thought-provoking idea. To understand, relate to and honour their legacy is a

truly praiseworthy consideration by any country that regards and values its cultural heritage as part of its

national identity.

There is no shortage of such sites in Pakistan, our beautiful country with a rich cultural heredity to

proudly boast of. What is lacking though, is effective action by the authorities to protect this heritage and

preserve it as a reminder and an insight into the lives of the occupiers of such archaeological wonders.

Mohenjo Daro, the ‘mound of the dead,’ is one such city, discovered in an excavation in 1922, located near

the bank of the Indus River in Sindh. This at least 5,000-year-old fully planned city, also designated a

UNESCO world heritage site, is one of the world’s oldest enduring settlements of the ancient Indus Valley

Civilisation co-existent with the ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilisations.

Mohenjo Daro faces continuous hazards of water logging and erosion from being in close proximity to the

river, extremely hot weather conditions and frequent flooding. Tube wells and protective spurs installed to

lower the ground water level and keep the river out, respectively, have not been maintained. Moreover,

vandalism and theft of the antique artefacts from the site further threaten its historical sanctity and

reflect poorly on the authorities whose endeavours to preserve the site have so far been negligible.

Following the 18th Amendment, the responsibility for the management of archeological sites was delegated to

their respective provincial authorities, who have exhibited either indifference or the absence of the

necessary political will to allocate funds to safeguard these places. The CM Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah’s

recent announcement of a Rs 100 million grant towards the preservation of Mohenjo Daro, is a commendable one.

However, the allocation of funds is only the beginning and the government should be mindful of the necessity

and significance of conservation of not only Mohenjo Daro, but all such archeological places of importance in

order to avert the loss of one of the oldest and most magnificent markers of ancient times in Pakistan. *

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C10%5C21%5Cstory_21-10-2011_pg3_1
DAILY TIMES
Editorial
Friday, October 21, 2011