With the elections approaching and the government facing criticism on the energy and water crisis a veritable campaign has been started on the benefits that Bhasha dam will bring to the nation. The impression being created is that these benefits will start accruing very soon and not in 12 to 15 years. The press should take note of this attempt at misleading the public by painting a very rosy picture. It is also being said that Bhasha dam would ensure food and water security besides increasing cultivable land and enhancing the agricultural produce through increased water availability for the crops. How will this be done when north Punjab, the largest tract of cultivable cropland in the country, is deprived of the water from Bhasha dam. The fact of the matter is that without water through the left bank canal at Kalabagh dam, two thirds of north Punjab will revert from irrigated to barani with a 50 percent loss in national food production. There is need to counter the misleading and self serving propaganda that has been unleashed by the government.
ENGR KHURSHID ANWER,
Lahore, April 17.