According to The Nation newspaper, both sides of the house in the Punjab assembly were unanimous in praising Indian Punjab for getting extra production from their land. They resolved to learn from the successful policies practiced in Indian East Punjab which has become the breadbasket of India. However, none of them thought it fit to mention that Indian East Punjab farmer is getting ample water and almost free electricity from the dams on Sutlej and Ravi rivers. It may be mentioned that the dams on these two rivers are exclusively for East Punjab while there are 4,600 more dams for the rest of the country.
We must think once again at our national progress, we have built no dams in the last four decades. The two main dams are for the whole country. The result is huge shortages which our West Punjab has to share with Sindh. How can it then become the breadbasket of the country which it once was? We need to wake up before our country becomes an arid desert with no growth or food. We may be facing famine soon if the government does not wake up to the need for more dams, to store water as well as create more energy.
ENG KHURSHID ANWER,
Lahore, August 31.