The Punjab government has planned to develop a lake in the dried-up bed of River Sutlej at the cost of Rs. 500 million. The River Sutlej along with River Bias and Ravi were surrendered in 1960 to India under the Indus Waters Basin Treaty. However in monsoon, when the Sutlej goes beyond control, India releases extra water in the dead river, at times without any pre-intimation to the Pakistani authorities which often results in loss of lives and properties in the downstream areas. The development of a lake in the dried-up riverbed would probably increase the subsoil water table providing some water for cultivation in the surrounding areas but one wonders what consequences it might have when, during high floods, inundated water released by India arrives in the river? Will the proposed lake sustain thrust of flooding waters? The provincial government has to make a through case study for contingencies before going ahead with such an ambitious plan. -A. KHAN PATHAN, California, January 22.