Daily Times

For decades, certain sections of Pakistani society have opposed the construction of new dams in this country. They have continued to do so, while enjoying the fruits of the social and political compromises brought about by their efforts. All the while, common Pakistanis have been deprived of water. It seems no one has the courage to curb this damaging narrative. Small or large, we needed new water reservoirs long ago. The last one was built in 1969. Nothing surfaced afterwards. Political will kept losing to vested political interest. The national interest was always compromised. Camouflaged public policy never delivered up to the aspirations and expectations of the general public on the social and political fronts nationally and internationally.

Now, let us take a glance at New Delhi’s stance about the construction of new dams on rivers flowing to Pakistan.

Almost four decades back, India launched a vigorous campaign to add more reservoirs to their water availability network for the sake of their economic sustainability. Strong voices emerged against the ill-planned and cost-inefficient dams the Indian government opted to construct. Indian experts and peoples’ representative were more concerned about the displacement of communities, the loss of agriculture, livelihood, forests and biodiversity from the sites of the planned dams. While the voices were getting stronger, the Indian government announced that all those opposing the new dams are favouring Pakistan. It added that these people should stop at once or migrate to Pakistan. This shrewd announcement sparked a massive wave against the dam-opponents. Finally the anti-dams voices were silenced. Today, Indian state websites provide information about 3,863 huge reservoirs. Huge improvement has been observed in over 91 reservoirs in recent decades.

At this point in time, China has more than 87,000 dams and reservoirs, which have had a profound effect on the China’s development and peoples’ prosperity. According to the World Commission on Dams in 2000, there were 22,104 dams over the height of 15 metres operating in China.

Over 4,800 dams completed or under construction stand at or exceed 30 metres in height. China is said to be the world’s leader in the construction of large dams; followed by Turkey and Japan coming in at third. The tallest dam in China is the Jinping-I Dam at 305 metres, an arch dam, which is also the tallest dam in the world. The largest reservoir is the Three Gorges Dam, which stores 39.3 billion cubic metres of water and has a surface area of 1,045 square kilometres.

Pakistan’s situation is the bleakest in the region, with only 150 water reservoirs, including five large dams. Water storage capacity has reduced by more than 30 percent since 1969, while consumption has increased manifold

Pakistan’s situation is the bleakest in the region, with only 150 water reservoirs, including five large dams. Water storage capacity has reduced by more than 30 percent since 1969, while consumption has increased manifold.

The critics of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar should be thankful to him for awakening the nation. It is quite unfortunate that the political governments could not do what the CJP has. After all, none of this was his job. Just peep into the past of the political and social leadership, they have always supporting an anti-Pakistan agenda in Pakistan. Once again, they are all out to create controversies around the Diamer-Bhasha dam’s construction.

This is why I believe there is no harm in invoking Article 6 of the Constitution (high treason) against those opposing the construction of dams in the country. This Article should be invoked against every one opposing the national interest.

Pakistan is the third most vulnerable country in terms of water scarcity, coming in just after Nigeria and Somalia. This should be an eye-opener for us all.

We should also support the CJP in his suo motu case against the free extraction of groundwater by bottled water companies. These water bottlers have extracted groundwater for pennies to earn billions. Entire communities living several kilometres of radius around their wells. It is extremely unfortunate that leading “peoples’ voices” — including some of the top legal minds of the country — are defending these blood-sucking corporations.

The CJP set a rare example by summoning the Chief Executive Officers of all bottled-water companies on Sunday, with directives to bring data on their dealings over the past five years. It is almost certain that some very shocking facts will be revealed very soon.

Across the world, the bottled-water companies are charged with the commercial rates for groundwater extraction and for the use of surface water. But this is not the case in Pakistan. Public authorities gave them a free reign, allowing exploitation of water resources. This nexus has ruined the groundwater table leaving no options for the poor but to drink unhygienic water from stagnant ponds. Bottled-water companies use groundwater for as low as 0.2 paisa per litre, while it is sold at Rs 33 per litre. Pakistan needs new rationed verdicts from the CJP that may lead to some water justice legislation and strategies in Pakistan.

The writer is an Islamabad-based policy advocacy, strategic communication and outreach expert. He can be reached at devcom.pakistan@gmail.com. He tweets @EmmayeSyed

Published in Daily Times, September 20^th 2018.