A reply on Marvi Memon’s open letter to PM Gillani on Kala Bagh Dam- by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla
Following is a reply on Marvi Memon’s open letter to PM Gillani on Kala Bagh Dam which we’d posted on LUBP earlier. You can see that post on the given link ‘Open Letter to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Kala Bagh Dam- by Marvi Memon‘
Dear Madam MNA,
When we want to believe that this is an extreme of manipulating issues, misguiding and confusing masses, there comes someone to give us a surprise. Your open letter to Prime Minister regarding Kala Bagh Dam is an excellent example of initiating another meaningless debate while pushing real issue under the carpet. This is not going to serve any purposes except confusing people and widen the existing differences between provinces. This effort will lead honourable parliamentarians from various provinces to be pitched against each other debating something which does not matter for this miserable nation.
The hypocrisy of ‘left-overs’ of dictatorships is an example of its own kind. According to distorted figures of previous government, economy was growing at rate of 8-10% a year. This is no more a secret that whatever real growth rate might, that mainly happened in consumer sector. Any government with a vision of a rabbit would have figured out that growth in consumption will lead to shortage of power. Despite your party’s slogans to elect the dictator in uniform for ten times, never a single word about a comprehensive power plan.
That tunnel vision leads this miserable nation in to Stone Age and darkness. With that growth in consumption, should not previous government have added at least 2,000/3,000 MW annually in to power system? Presently, there is shortage of about 7,000/8,000 MW. Thermal power being generated on imported fuel is draining resources and making power expensive for industry and common household. How many damns were build during dictatorship, actively supported by your good self and your party? The most unfortunate aspect of this manipulated economic circus was purchase of oil on deferred payments and leaving the debts for new government.
That was not the last crime of your government, the sword of non-payment to power companies and circular debt still hangs on head of newly elected government. In order to assure the bankers profits, your government got foreign debts rescheduled for short terms on higher interest rates. Banker and so called stock investors made hefty profits by investing in to stocks and consumer finance, which lead to inflation and devaluation of rupee. These repayments, delayed during previous government are draining a major share of GDP and government is forced to borrow from IMF to make repayments. Good things that you speak up about an’ Energy Plan’ after 13 long years but still silent over issue of resources needed for such plan.
Apart from the technical details about KBD, three provincial governments have passed resolution against the project. The issue has since been dead unless provinces reach an agreement. Why to start a new debate and waste the time of parliament and nation on a meaningless discussion? Please allow me to ask you something more relevant. Even if, the provinces reach an agreement on KBD and give it a nod, what would be the mode of financing and repayments of $ 6 Billion estimated costs? Does government has enough resources to finance KBD project on it’s own or get financing from international lenders. Has your good self ever bothered to ask Foreign Diplomats about reservations of investors from their respective countries – your might find your performance on TV talk shows as a part of problem.
Dear Madam,
Opposition parties are playing a dangerous game with this miserable nation by spreading confusion and widening divides. There is no doubt that potential for hydro-power has criminally been ignored by previous government. There are several other sites identified for building dams, surely, we must go for these and leave KBD issue alone, which is a controversial project. Work on these sites where feasibility studies has been carried can be started in short span of time. But won’t we need funding to start these projects?
We are also blessed with huge coal reserves, solar and wind sources and can exploit that potential. However, building dams will not only give us cheapest power with lowest capital investment but also help in conserving water which our agriculture needs desperately. All these projects need huge investments while present government is getting financial assistance from IMF to repay the previous debts and cover fiscal deficit. Opposition parties and so-called ‘political actors’ both, prefer a silence over the source of funding to start these projects. Although that is the most relevant and core issue, a bright Parliamentarian like you is expected to discuss about some plans to secure FDI.
Dear Madam,
Please, allow me to discuss your party’s role in effectively killing any possible source of investment in this country, desperately need in order to start new power projects. I can recall your performance on various TV shows, while campaigning against Kerry-Luger legislation to the ‘imaginary corruption’ in rental power projects. You were also very vocal against investment in PIA, which has helped the company to get out of operating losses. While opposition is supposed to criticise government, that does not have to be on cost of national interests to secure some quick points.
You are very well aware that the government does not posses the resources to go ahead with these projects on its own and needs foreign investment desperately. Allow me to ask your good self to name any foreign investor which is willing to invest in power sector because of the havoc opposition creates in media. The investor is such a sensitive bird, which flees away sensing the slightest chance of instability. Who on earth will pump billion of dollars in a country where so called ‘political actors’ will turn the legitimate investor in to a devil’?
In present economic situation, FDI is the only option left for government which can help in creation of jobs, built infrastructure and power projects. Would you like to invest your money in a country where you are certain of a media trial by ‘political actors’ and ending up before a court of law for ‘supposed corruption’ rather than earning some profits? Opposition parties, the Judiciary and establishment, all have to be supportive of government in order to bring FDI and restore investor confidence in a country where a suicide bomber blow himself up every other day.
What we are witnessing is exactly opposite. An honourable Senator and top office bearer of your own party has earned the repute of a ‘Bangali BaBa’ for giving the repeated failed dates for fall of elected government and military or judicial take over. President of the country is under constant media trial and there is a never ending noise from opposition parties for a military or judicial take over. Pick up any mainstream news paper and one is forced to believe that elected government would be ousted before evening. Is this the way to convince investors to bring their billion dollars and invest in your country?
Although sad but a bitter truth is that, opposition parties and some power players want to create controversies rather than playing any positive role. For a cover up of their designs, they should start debating over juicy non issues, like the one initiated by your good self. You won’t utter a single word as to how government should arrange funds. Does it need an Einstein to understand, what stops your good self from talking about investor confidence and FDI? Corruption does exist at certain levels in third world countries but that is not which makes Foreign Investors scared. This is instability of government and fear of discontinuation of policies which keeps investors away.
Please, do take an honest moment and ask your good self about your and your party’s contribution in harassing and chasing away any potential investor.
Dear Madam,
You are right in asking government to come up with a comprehensive Energy and Water Conservation Plan. The funds are not going to fall from skies, we need to stop chasing and harassing investors and take them in to confidence. Why does not you party takes that initiative to host an investors conference. It should initiate this debate in parliament. An ‘all parties Parliamentarians group’ should inviting the investors from all over the world.
In such a conference top opposition Parliamentarians, Honourable Judges of Superior Courts and leading Media Houses should assure the investors of their full support and cooperation. I assure you that Pakistan offers some of the best investment opportunities for foreign funds and they would be more than pleased to pick these opportunities. Your little cooperation with government on national interests can result in beginning several projects including coal development, dams’ construction, infrastructure development and job creation.
If your good self doesn’t not has knowledge of investors sentiment and fears about investing in Pakistan, then I would respectfully suggest you to have an orientation visit of Parliamentarians to some investment houses. You might be surprised to find that biggest hurdle is the havoc created by ‘power players’ and ‘political actors’ Can expect and end to this practice, more ‘open letters’ from you, Opposition Parties, Judiciary, Media Houses and Parliamentarians offering Prime Minister their support and cooperation in restoring investors confidence? We can only go ahead with infrastructure development in case there is the foreign investor. That will only happen if, we can start talk about real issue and that is ‘investor’s confidence’.
I sincerely hope that your good self would be the first to initiate the debate in Parliament about ‘A Comprehensive FDI Policy’ and how to counter the elements discouraging foreign investment. I also hope that you would be suggesting measure to bring these ‘political actors’ under control which start making a devil out of every potential investor and do their media trial by singing ‘corruption’ mantra. Certainly in future, your good self and ‘Bangali Baba’ fame Senator of your party won’t be on ‘investors chasing’ spree’ on every TV talk show’, giving the dates of military take over and delivering sermons on ‘imaginary corruption’. Surely, you do care about Pakistan.
Best Regards,
Ahmad Nadeem Gehla
Author, Team LUBP
In-short, madam is completely stupid.
I think people have misunderstood Marvi Memon’s letter – she did a good job in showing that WAPDA has been misleading the public for years about the feasibility of Kalabagh Dam project and portraying it as the saviour of pakistan’s energy problems when instead there are a number of unresolved technical issues which her letter highlighted. Basically the point of her letter was that KBD is a lost technical cause.
Also, MM can’t be blamed for reviving the KBD issue in NA – the issue was brought up in the budget session by Bushra Rehman of PML-Q. I think it’s really commendable of MM to go against her own party and on fact-based grounds rather than just playing politics.
Dear Sir,
That was a very important reply from your self, to a women like Marvi Memon who does not have a sense of responsibility, what she is discussing.
i will be very much glad on receiving the detail of Whole Kala Bag Dam Issue.
I am Planning Engineer by profession in Saudi Arabia, belonging to middle class family from Larkana.
I am fane of President Asif Ali Zardari.
I want to wash out the wrong perception of President personality from the minds of my friends, who are mostly belonging to Punjab province.
Best Regards,
Kashif Ali Memon
Planning Engineer
Rabia,
Purpose is not to expose MM but their collective hypocrisy which is killing investment. If she talked about KBD issue against her party lines or not is not important, for that matter she or her party doesn’t make any difference. But her sermons on TV shows and campaigns against every potential initiative for people needs to be discussed.
Such a remarkable blog, even though you will find one facts which I perhaps might not entirely consent, yet your thoughts are most definitely impressive.
“Dirty Thar Coal Versus Environment Friendly Kalabagh Dam in Pakistan
& South Asia”.
• It is very strange to note that present Government of Pakistan is advocating for Air Polluting Thar Coal Project Versus Environmental Friendly Kalabagh Dam.
• Kalabagh dam which will increase the water resources of the country is being opposed while Thar coal project, which will consume huge amount of water and will contaminate all water, air and land resources of Pakistan is being advocated by the government.
• Clean electricity produced by Kalabagh dam will be available to every citizen of the country while Thar coal project will pollute all water, air and land resources of not only of Pakistan but also of neighbouring countries like India and China.
• Thar coal will effect each and every living organism while environment friendly Kalabagh will not only store water for the cultivation of land , but also will produce clean energy without carbon emmision, by that electricity it will be possible to pump out under ground water which will also increase water resources and will store water for cultivation of land, Kalabagh Dam will increase wet land for fisheries, will increase green land which will be helpful in decreasing environmental carbon dioxide produce by coal and other fuels and will control flooding and erosion of land and will save lives and lands of people.
• Coal is one of the most polluting sources of energy available, jeopardizing our health and our environment. While Kalabagh Dam will have multiple advantages and will act as clean electricity power house, Sweet water reservoir and floods controller all these things will improve fertility of lands, will reduce poverty and will increase food production.
The Effects of Coal on the Environment.
Coal as a source of energy is probably the most environmentally damaging of
all the traditional sources of energy.
• One must keep in mind that a typical power coal plant generates 3 million tons of CO2 or 17 tons of carbon per megawatt and draws about 2.3 billion gallons of water per annum from nearby source while on land coal produces mercury which not only renders water useless for human consumption but also for irrigation purpose as well.
• “Coal Power in a Warming World” by Barbara Freese et al, published by the Union of Concerned Scientists in October 2008 states that “The underground mining of coal is a dangerous profession, and underground and surface mining are both highly damaging to landscapes, water supplies, and ecosystems”.
• The Natural Resources Defense Council paper entitled “Coal in a Changing Climate”, issued in February 2007 claims that “Coal mining—and particularly surface or strip mining—poses one of the most significant threats to terrestrial habitats in the United States.”
• Figures from “Key World Energy Statistics: 2008″ show that coal is responsible for 42% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.
• “Coal in a Changing Climate” shows that coal produces large amounts of airborne toxic chemicals, including sulfur dioxide, mercury, nitrous oxides, arsenic and lead.
• Coal is a highly polluting energy source. It emits much more carbon per unit of energy than oil, and natural gas. CO2 represents the major portion of greenhouse gases. It is, therefore, one of the leading contributors to climate change.
• From mine to sky, from extraction to combustion — coal pollutes every step of the way. The huge environmental and social costs associated with coal usage make it an expensive option for developing countries.
• Coal mining is responsible for acid drainage from coal mines, polluting rivers and streams, to the release of mercury and other toxins when it is burned, as well as climate-destroying gases and fine particulates that wreak havoc on human health, COAL is unquestionably, a DIRTY BUSINESS.
South Asia.
On one side China and India are planning to curb the Carbon emission by curbing the use of oil, coal and other fossil fuels, and Bangladesh and Maldives are crying for taking measures against rise of seas due to global warming and melting of glaciers and on other side Government of Pakistan is planning to use Thar coal which will not only cause global warming but also pollute the whole environment of South Asia but in fact will endanger the life of 3 Billion peoples living in China, India, Kashmir, Northern areas, NWFP, PUNJAB and Sindh, as the direction of smoke and dangerous gases will be from east to north west of Pakistan. And people of these areas will suffer from respiratory diseases such as Asthma, Bronchitis, Cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and people of these areas will suffer from dangers and adverse effects of smoking without smoking the cigarettes.
Government of Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned for sinking delta dwellers people of Bangladesh and Island dweller people of Maldives under sea by wasting about 10 Million Acres feet water of River Indus from the catchments area of whole of Pakistan in the sea and is not preserving and storing that water in dams like Kalabagh and Basha, on one side people of Pakistan are suffering from acute wastage of water and electricity and on other side Government is wasting sweet water in the sea which is not only causing sea rise and erosion of coastal land for whole of subcontinent, including Bangladesh and Maldives but is also harmful for saline habitat fishes and saline and sea plants like Mangroves
Countering Rise in Sea level and Global Warming.
Global Warming:
For countering global warming there is need to completely restrict use of coal for any purpose and to minimize other fossils fuels such as oil and gas and use of alternatives resources such as wind, solar and water power by means of dams like Kalabagh and Basha Dams in Pakistan should be encouraged and preferred.
Rise in Sea Level.
For countering rise in sea level following measures should be taken to save and to protect from submerging the people of Bangladesh, Maldives and other Island dwellers under sea.
• All the rain and glaciers water on land should be preserved and stored in reservoirs and dams like Kalabagh and other dams for use on land( For Agriculture, Electricity generation and human consumption) and other purposes so that no water should waste in sea which will ultimately cause the rise in sea level.
• In Coastal areas use of sea water should be increased as much as possible for Industrial and agricultural purposes.
• After desalination and Purification Sea water should be use for human consumption as much as possible.
• Wastage of sweet water and fertile silt in sea should be prevented and should be used for fertilization and irrigation of land and other useful purposes.
• There should be maximum utilization of sea resources such as exploration of silt and stones from sea towards land and coastal areas.
• There should be maximum utilization of sea resources such as exploration of sea salts for use as chemicals and other purposes.
• There should be maximum utilization of sea resources such as sea plants such as algae and fishes to decrease the volume of sea so that rise in sea could be countered by each and every mean available.
Already Polluted Atmosphere of South Asia.
South Asia is already suffering from the adverse effects of Brown cloud(Accumulation of Dirty gases in upper atmosphere of Subcontinent and is having negative effects on the health of population of India and Pakistan , Moreover there is already shortage of Ozone gas in the upper atmosphere of South Asia, due to which people of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka ) are not having perfect healthy bodies as compared to other races of the world, .In view of such a bad condition of atmosphere burning the coal is just like to throw the people of Pakistan into valley of death, where as there already so many poor workers are daily dying in the coal mines of Balouchistan, but no one is having any care about those poor workers.
There are a number of adverse environmental effects of coal mining and burning, especially the glaciers of the Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindukush and Pamir ranges in Gilgit-Baltistan contribute significantly to the stream flow of the Indus Basin. More significantly, during the dry season these glaciers become the system’s only source. Impacts due to climate change on these glaciers have been studied in recent decades and vivid fluctuation of water flow in the Indus River Basin System has been reported.
Conclusion:
Due to flow of toxic gases and smoke from Thar Coal towards North and Western Pakistan, It is the responsibility of Jammu and Kashmir, Northern Areas, NWFP, Punjab and Sindh Governments to review the adverse effects of Thar coal as it is the matter of life and death of the people of these areas. As unhealthy environment due to smoke and toxic gases will destroy the beauty of land of Kashmir and Gilgit and Baltistan and will cause health problems such as cancer, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory and genetic diseases due to environmental pollution in the people of Punjab, NWFP, Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan. Thar coal will destroy the fertility of land and will pollute the water resources of the country.
It is the responsibility of Governments of China ,India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Kashmir and Provinces of Pakistan to persuade Federal government of Pakistan not to use Dirty coal while many dams may be constructed for generation of clean energy in Pakistan like Kalabagh and Basha Dam, it is necessary as government of Pakistan is wasting its only Indus River sweet water( 10 Million Acres Feet Water )in the sea while on the other side common people of Pakistan are suffering from the thirst and hunger due to shortage of water and electricity.
Written By:M.AKRAM KHAN NIAZI.
Karachi, Pakistan.