Terms of the Kalabagh dam ‘essential for the state’

Islamabad:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s prime minister (KP), Ali Amin Gandapur, said Monday that the construction of the Kalabagh dam was “essential for the state” and urged that concerns about the controversial project should be addressed through dialogue.

Speaking to journalists after a party meeting at KP House in Islamabad, Gandapur blamed the absence of great dams for the devastation caused by rains and floods.

“We are afraid to name some dams. The Kalabagh dam is necessary for the State, and if there are reservations, they must be addressed through conversations,” he said. “We are ready to contribute to our participation in its construction, and other provinces should also play their role so that the project can be carried out.”

The prime minister admitted that delays in the construction of dams had led to disasters. He said that his provincial government was taking independent measures, having completed six dams last year, including Gomal, which reduced flood losses.

“We are building dams in several districts to minimize risks in the future,” he added. Gandapur said a new jabba dam was being built to protect Peshawar, while a protective wall in Budhni had erected to protect the city against floods.

He also addressed the recent sudden floods in Buner, saying that they were the result of a cloud and not deforestation. “The clouds occur due to the increase in heat in the atmosphere and can occur anywhere. To block the rocks transported by flooding, the networks will be installed in the Swiss model,” he said.