KALABAGH DAM
Despite severe depletion of water resources of Indus River System, Pakistan’s most populous and most powerful province Punjab and WAPDA ( Water and Power Development Authority ), are insistent that they want to build yet another mega storage dam on River Indus at Kalabagh with the purpose of draining another 12.86 MAF water for irrigation.
The Kalabagh Dam (KBD) is proposed to be located at about 120 miles (200 km) downstream of Tarbela dam. According to PC – II, stage III Proferma, when constructed.
Quote “ it is expected to be 260 ft high and would create a reservoir of 6.1 million acre feet (MAF) of usable storage. The annual production of energy would amount to about 11,200GWh (Giga Watt Hours) generated by a hydro power plant of 2,400 MW capacity. This capacity may ultimately be increased to 3,600 MW making Kalabagh one of the largest single hydrogenation of dams in Asia. The total project cost covering civil and power facilities as estimated by the consultants at June 1987 prices will be about US $ 5.153 billion including interest during construction, customs duties and taxes and price contingencies” – unquote.
(Dam Particulars Appendix – 3)
(Site Plan Appendix – 4)
The objectives of the project given in Pc – II, Stage – 3 are as under:
The proposed Kalabagh Dam is multipurpose. Its main objectives are:
(1) To generate large amounts of low cost hydro electric power near major load centres, and supply the existing grid for meeting the growing power demand of agriculture, industrial and domestic consumers. In addition to increase the energy output of the existing Tarbela scheme by permitting the conjunctive operation of the two reservoirs.
(2) To provide additional storage on the Indus and thus reduce the existing system shortfall in irrigation requirements.
(3) To provide additional regulation on the Indus River the biggest source of surface water in Pakistan, and thus provide better system control and management for supplying assured, adequate and timely irrigation water for crops.
(4) To compensate for the storage loss due to the silting up of existing reservoirs till such time that their substitutes, presently being planned, are actually available.
(5) To eliminate and control flood peaks of the Indus to minimize flood hazards downstream.
(6) To increase Pakistan’s capability to manage its water distribution and power generation systems through the conjunctive operation of Tarbela and Kalabagh Reservoirs.
According to the same PC - II:
Field Studies for the Kalabagh Dam Project were initiated by the Government of Pakistan in 1953. Until 1973, the project was basically considered as a storage project for meeting irrigation needs. However, the oil crises of 1973 and the consequent rapid increases in the cost of energy have greatly enhanced the priority of Kalabagh as a power project.
After engaging many consultants and field studies, spread over more than 3 decades, Stage I covering detailed investigation and preparation of the project planning report commenced in March’ 84 establishing the technical & economic feasibility of the project. Stage II covering preparation of detailed designs and tender documents for civil work including the preparation of documents commenced in March’ 84 and was completed by December ’85.
So far studies on feasibility and documentation have cost the Government of Pakistan Rs.1 Billion.
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