ISLAMABAD - Farmers of Punjab and Sindh are suffering extensively besides decrease in hydro power generation as India continued its water aggression by significant increment in the number of dams on rivers leading to Pakistan.
It should be mentioned that Indian authorities approved the construction of five dams on Chenab River in Himachal Pradesh state of Northern India bordering with Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
Construction contract of Seeli Dam has been finalised by the Indian government to generate 540 mega watts electricity by the project. Fisheries Department of the province is also setting up micro dams on Chenab River. Water and Power Expert Arshad Ali says the dams plan is a dangerous omen for the future of Pakistan. "In future, water issues will be more important than terrorism," he further said.
Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner seems unconcerned on the development and no objection has been raised against the project.
Earlier, India started preparations to construct the Pakal Dul Hydropower Dam with a capacity to generate 1,500MWs of electricity on Pakistan's Chenab River, in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Pakal Dul Hydropower dam will be constructed on River Chenab in Kishtwar area of Occupied Kashmir and tender has also been issued for construction.
The project would have a reservoir capacity of 0.108 million acre feet (MAF), dead storage capacity of 0.014 MAF, full reservoir level of 1,700 metres and a dead storage level of 1,620 metres.
The concrete-face, rock-filled dam would have a height of 1,708m and a maximum water level of 1,703m. It will have a surface spillway with crest level of 1,684m with two bays and two tunnels.
According to the design, the tunnel-type spillway will have a dual purpose: to pass floods and sediment management. It will have two head race tunnels of 10,000m each and four tail race tunnels of 125m each. Experts said that the construction of dam would have severe impact on flow of River Chenab which will affect Pakistan in various aspects.