Pakistani experts say NO to big dams

OneWorld Net
http://www.oneworld.net
April 06, 2004

Ahmad Naeem Khan

LAHORE: Pakistani experts, which included environmentalists, economists and civil society activists, have given a call to reject large dams as a solution to water crisis.

Speaking at a meet organized by civil society organisations - the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Sungi Development Foundation, ActionAid Pakistan, and Oxfam UK - in capital Islamabad, experts said large dams are damaging to environment, the eco system and people.

Sajid Kazmi of SDPI said the conference aims at raising awareness among the people about social, economic and environmental consequences of dams and other water-related projects. He added that recommendations from the meet would provide inputs for effective policy and decision-making process.

Dr Imtiaz Alvi, executive director of the Sungi Development Foundation said water problems can be resolved by providing good governance in political, social, economic and administrative systems. He stressed on the need for effective and integrated water governance for the conservation and management of water resources.

Khadim Hussain from ActionAid Pakistan said in the past, control and management of water was undertaken by local communities, but now due to the increasing role of the state and bureaucracy, control and regulation of water rests with public institutions.

He said, "Unfortunately, these public institutions have no cognizance of social,
economic and environmental consequences of such mega projects. Although the process of dam construction in development perspective seems to be a good effort by the government but in reality these mindless development initiatives, wherein people rights are not respected, always jeopardize the very notion of development and further exacerbate the problems.

Professor Mushtaq Mirani, expert from the southern Sindh province, said water is a serious issue having central role in the socio-economic wellbeing of people. He added that the lopsided policy-making process deprives the people of sharing their concerns while decisions are taken on big projects. He criticized the government's consultative processes as hoodwink the public.

Criticising the government's Water Vision 2025, Professor Mirani said it is a $50-billion-vision that aims to fulfill water needs of Pakistan in the next 25 years. "Can we by virtue of being a citizen ask the government where and how this amount is going to be spent? Rather than building dams, we should focus on the conservation and sustainable management of existing water resources," he added.

Secretary General of the Sindh Democratic Party Ibrar Qazi added that the people of Sindh are against water projects simply because of water shortage and water crises in the province. "There has been a decrease in water availability and provision over the last several years. Even when Pakistan had a bumper wheat crop and became a wheat exporter, people in many parts of the Sindh province were suffering from a water crisis."

Senator Nisar A Memon, who heads the political committee formed by the Pakistani government to develop a consensus among provinces on new water reservoirs including the controversial Kalabagh Dam and the Greater Thal Canal, emphasized upon the need for a balance representation of all stakeholders, in such kind of forums.

Memon said one of the root causes of problems in the water sector is that there is no mechanism for providing appropriate and relevant information. He said, "people develop conjectures and start criticizing water-related projects. The government has instituted a committee of Parliamentarians to look into issues in the water sector and make recommendations to introduce changes in the sector."

WWF representative Naseer Memon discussed the impact of upstream diversion on the Indus delta. He shared how the ecology of the Delta is exposed to a multitude of threats like reduced freshwater inflows, degradation of mangrove forests, marine fisheries including the extinction of very rare varities of fish and shrimps. One of the world’s largest mangrove forests, the Indus Delta is fast disappearing.

He said policy makers should recognize freshwater release and avoid labeling it as wastage. He said, "Untill a comprehensive water study on the Delta is done, we should not implement any upstream diversion project. We should also compensate people affected by the construction of large dams and also those who have lost their historical share of water.

Politicians from the provinces of Punjab and Balochistan said decisions concerning mega dams should be taken on technical and not political basis. Member of the Balochistan national assembly Rauf Mengal said poor people whose land will be water-logged because of the Miran Dam should be properly compensated.

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