WAPDA interfered with Riwaj-e-abpashi by reducing the legal water share of Gandapurs of Tehsil Kulachi by half, and illegally increased the share of Tank Tehsil by 13 times, though Tank Tehsil is not entitled for Gomal Zam flood water.

The Gandapurs in search of Justice for water rights—the source of their living for centuries.

Water rights history of Gandapurs

Gomal Zam is notorious for causing flood havoc in Tehsil Kulachi. This very area has a history of irrigation from Gomal Zam hill torrents ever since 300 years B.C. The Gandapurs expelled ‘Kulachi Balochs’ from this area. The city of Kulachi was developed by ‘Kulachi Baloch’ named Hussain Khan. The Gandapures were a Pawinda tribe. They came from the hills east of Kandahar in search of water and settled along the banks of Luni Stream, the major branch of Gomal River, about 450 years ago. Gomal Zam floodwater branches and spans all over the Gandapur area of Kulachi Tehsil. This is why the soil of Kulachi Tehsil is formed of deposited silt from the floodwater of Gomal Zam. Kulachi was once a flourishing trade center and a fertile area as it was irrigated by floodwater of Gomal Zam. It produced the sweetest melons in the world. Kulachi was an agriculture city.  

The Town of Kulachi was severely damaged by the record flood of 1955 by Gomal Zam River. Gomal Zam floodwater has eroded the soil of Kulachi Tehsil and formed ravines/Khads by the force of floodwater. This history shows that Gomal Zam was irrigating the whole area of Kulachi Tehsil by its floods and was the most productive area in food grains in the district.  Its people used to go up to Calcutta for trading.

But the un-control floodwaters of Gomal Zam destroyed this green area by land erosion and ravines formation, changing the course of its flow, shifting flood irrigated area every now and then, after breaching the Rod Kohi bunds built under the Rod Kohi System of irrigation and then release floodwater to the downstream area for more irrigation. As a result the agriculture produce became uncertain as there was no control on the furious floods. As such, the people focused on education and now there are a big number of highly educated Gandapurs spread all over the world. Most of them are Doctors, engineers and in various other professions and businesses.    

The British officers reduced all the working of floodwater irrigation, called Rod Kohi irrigation to writing during the “Land Settlement” in 1880 and 1908. Mr Bolton irrigation Notes of 1908 are still considered as the Bible of Rod Kohi irrigation system. The British officers who fixed the water rights of Gandapurs in Gomal Zam. For this, the then British Government prepared the ‘Riwaj-e-Abpashi, kulyat,  fixing water rights of the whole area under the command of Gomal River, in 1880, 1908. The Riwaj-e-abpashi covered the area of Gandapurs where Gomal River floodwater spreads. D.I.Khan, its lower riparian area was also given its floodwater share in Gomal River.

Herbert Edwards said “Let me remind my readers that they need not go to Kulachi, unless they are in search of two things, namely brave soldiers and very sweet melons”.  

Water rights of Gandapurs in floodwater of Gomal Zam were confirmed and finalized in settlement by Mr Bolton in his last settlement report in 1908. This final report confirms that floodwater belongs to Gandapurs, and to a few villages in Dera Tehsil. The floodwater of Gomal River has its outfall in the Indus River. Kulachi Town formed the pivotal center of flood irrigation from Gomal Zam.

The 63 Km long main canal should have passed through the Town of Kulachi. Surprisingly, this is ignored due to poor knowledge of WAPDA. WAPDA deprived Kulachi Tehsil of its floodwater share as it failed to cover the legal and entitled area for the use of floodwater stored in Gomal Reservoir. Till recently Gandapurs of Kulachi Town were under the destructive hit of the furry of Gomal Zam. Now, when the Gomal Zam is controlled after the construction of Khajuri Katch Dam, a spectacular Dam site discovered by Engineer Fateh ullah Khan Gandapur in 1959, the storage  water that belongs to Gandapurs are gifted by WAPDA to the people of Tank who are not at all entitled to receive floodwater as under the Riwaj-e-abpashi the floodwater belongs to Gandapurs.

The LUNI River bed remained the source of drinking water for the people of Kulachi Town for centuries. The area around Kulachi is irrigated by the floodwater of Gomal Zam in Luni Stream.

Kaur Nullah in Tank is not the branch of Gomal Zam. It gets rainwater and feeds a few villages in Tank Tehsil. The floodwater of Gomal Zam spreads into many branches in Kulachi Tehsil.

Gomal River feeds Kot Azam, nullah Naskor, nullah Cross wait (the name of British Revenue Officer), Bolton Wah (another British revenue officer) and Khad Amani. All these branches of floodwater irrigated Gandapur area of Kulachi Tehsil under the Rod Kohi system. Historical facts establishes, the water rights of Gandapurs on Gomal River since 1880, irrigating an area of 143660 acres. Similarly, the Gomal Zam floodwater irrigates 30328 acres in Dera Tehsil from LUNI River, the main branch of Gomal River. Now by the construction of CRBC, about 20335 acres of Dera Tehsil is irrigated by the CRBC and the remaining area of 9993 acres still depends on the floodwater of Gomal Zam. As a result, the water share of 20335 acres will now be attached to Gandapur area.

As such, the floodwater of Gomal Zam will now irrigate (143660+20335)= 163325 acres of Gandapurs of Kulachi Tehsil. The Gomal Dam floodwater must cover 163325 acres of Kulachi Tehsil. This is the core area of the Project for irrigation under the Rod Kohi irrigation system. This established area must be included in the PC-I, and the canal system remodeled accordingly to cover 163,325 acres by the network of canals in Kulachi Tehsil.

It is immaterial, if the floodwater of this area is sufficient or not, it must uniformly cover an area of 163,325 acres in the project boundary, and this area be included in the CCA and the PC-I as per the water rights of Kulachi Tehsil and as per the Riwaj-e-Abpashi/Kuliyat of 1880, and 1908 and as per Settlement. As such, the floodwater share comes to as follows:-

Lands entitle to receive Gomal Zam River water

* Kulachi Tehsil         (143660+20335)= 163325 acres

* D.I.Khan Tehsil       (9993 acres).

*Tank Tehsil              (700 acres)

     

The Khajuri Katch dam site for Gomal Zam was discovered by Engr Fateh Ullah Khan Gandapur in 1959 as the then Project Director Gomal Zam. He also discovered the dam site for Tank Zam at Hanis Tangi and for all other hill torrents. Engr Fateh ullah Khan is the discoverer of 12 multipurpose maga dams in Pakistan when he was incharge of Dams Investigation Division.  Tank Zam will shortly be built as it is already approved for construction.

The centuries old established Riwaj-e-abpashi shows that 90% floodwater of Gomal Zam belongs to Gandapurs of Kulachi Tehsil.  

Please refer to Assistant Commissioner Tank letter No: 319/NTI dated October 14, 1975. He said that maximum amount of Kalapani, (perennial water) from Gomal Zam belongs to Tank Tehsil. He did not mention the Floodwater of Gomal Zam. Tank Tehsil is entitled to 30 ‘Jandar’ of perennial water that is about 30 cusecs of Kalapani and not the Floodwater from Gomal Zam. A discharge greater than 30 ‘Jandar’ is considered as floodwater.

Please watch the confusing and interfering behavior of WAPDA that plays political role under political influence by ignoring the Centuries old established floodwater rights of Gandapurs of Kulachi from Gomal Zam. WAPDA has illegally imposed its own whimsical and illegal decision of floodwater distribution from Gomal Zam in the garb of intensity of irrigation. WAPDA does not know the Riwaj-e-abpashi as 90% floodwater of Gomal Zam belongs to Gandapurs of Kulachi. WAPDA should have planned and built network of canal system accordingly. The Gandapurs settled in this area about 500 years ago in search of water. They settled in Kulachi Tahsil along the bank of LUNI River, major branch of Gomal River about 450 years ago. They depend for living on Gomal River floodwater for irrigating their lands. This is why they settled on the Bank of the Luni River as that area was fertile. It is not understood, why WAPDA a mere contractor in status is interfering in the Riwaj-e-abpashi and changing the nature of Gomal River flow. Please see data below.

Illegal distribution of Gomal floodwater by WAPDA violating the Riwaj 1880

The Gomal Zam storage water of 381 cusecs out of 848 cusecs is illegally allotted by WAPDA on the basis of three intensities of irrigation that amounts to cheating. It is bizarre. Tank has no water rights in Gomal floodwater.  

·       Tank        45%     equal to      381 cusecs

·       Kulachi    50%     equal to      425 cusecs

·       Dera         5%       equal to       42  cusecs

The Riwaje-abpasi’s authorized distribution of Gomal Zam water  as follows:-

·       Kulachi Tehsil (143669+20335)= 163325 acres. (Water share 811 cusecs) but given 425 cusecs.

·       Tank Tehsil  (700 acres)  (but Water share given 381 cusecs) against only  30 cusecs (30 Janders)

·       Dera  Tehsil     (9993 acrse)      water 42 cusecs.

It may be noted that Kulachi Tehsil has 90% share of Floodwater from Gomal Zam whereas, WAPDA gave 50% floodwater ie 425 cusecs against 811 cusecs.

Using the trick of intensity of irrigation to raise the floodwater share of Tank.                

Please watch the trick of “intensity of irrigation” played by WAPDA with the water rights of Gandapurs by usurping the floodwater of Gandapurs, and favoring the people of Tank Tehsil that has only 30 cusecs perennial water share of water rights but is given 381 cusecs share in Gomal floodwater. The trick lies in the induction of three different cropping intensities that is 120%, 100%, and 60%. This will result in inequitable distribution of water rights on the same canal though the Riwaj-e-abpashi provides equal water rights for all the land holders. Those who are allowed 120% intensity of irrigation will get two times more floodwater than those who are allowed 60% intensity of irrigation on the same canal. It is pointed out that there is no concept of distributing water on the basis of varying intensities of irrigation in the Riwaj-e-abpashi when people have equal water rights. Cropping intensity on this project governed by Riwaj-e-abpashi is absolutely irrelevant, as water is governed by the Riwaj-e-abpashi that cannot be violated. Let the farmers increase water use efficiency by adopting Sprinkler and Drip irrigation methods to increase intensity of irrigation as far as possible with the same quantity of water as the storage water is crystal clear and the land is ideal. Besides this, resort to “pipe Supply” replacing water courses to save seepage and evaporation losses.

It is surprising that Gandapures share in floodwater is arbitrarily reduced by half and the share of Tank Tehsil is illegally increase by about 13 times. (381 cusecs divided by 30 Jander/cusecs)= 13 times. All this is under the pretext of intensity of irrigation.

It may be noted that WAPDA is merely a contractor to obey the orders of the client, the owners of water, and the irrigation Department. WAPDA has no legal authority to change the Riwaj-e-abpashi. It cannot interfere with the Riwaj-e-abpashi and with the water rights of the people as established since 1880 and 1908. The Riwaj-e-abpshi is sacrosanct and no one can alter this. It shows WAPDA has knowingly committed a crime that has sown the seeds of water war, disputes, law and order problem between the people of Kulachi and the people of Tank that will result in bloodshed. This is extremely malicious and wicket to interfere in the Riwaj-e-abpashi and in the water rights of the people. The Government should take immediate notice to avert the ugly law and order situation.

It is warned that the time-based Gomal Dam storage will lose its storage capacity due to silting when irrigation from the storage reservoir will stop due to water disputes. The disputes will disrupt its functioning that may continue for years when rapid silting of reservoir will reduce its storage capacity. This will be a terrible blow to the Project. The discharge of 848 cusecs will be reduced by silting to a lower discharge that will hurt the farmers. “It is said “the death of the reservoir starts the day it is built”. WAPDA would be held responsible for destroying the Gomal Dam Project by poking its nose in the Riwaj-e-abpashi, illegally reducing the water rights of Gandapurs by half though it has no concern with the Riwaj-e-abpashi.  

It is very vital that all the network of canal irrigation system should be redesigned to carry water as per the water rights of the area forgetting the cropping intensity. Canals designed on the basis of 60% intensity of irrigation should be redesigned and remodeled to carry water as per the water rights of the area. The Gandapur area of Kulachi, about 163325 acres, must be brought under the command of canal system and provided water as per its share in the Riwaj.

Please refer to letter No: 18286/Rev dated 10.11.1973 from Secretary Board of Revenue. It states that Tank, Kulachi and D.I.Khan are entitled to get water from Gomal Zam according to the manner recorded in the record of rights, Kuliyat/Riwaj-e-abpashi as per last settlement in 1968.

Minutes of the Provincial coordination Committee (PCC) on Gomal Zam  dated 14.10.2002

The committee said, Gomal Zam floodwater and perennial water has historical and established water rights based on the Rewaj-e-abpashi/Kuliyat. It further said, the inclusion of land in the CCA having no water rights, and the excluded area having water rights, may lead to litigation, law and order problem and result in delaying the completion of the project. This should be set right at once.

To avoid litigation and bloodshed, it is essential that lands having water rights are confirmed by WAPDA from Revenue Authorities of both the districts before fixing alignment/chaks of canal system. WAPDA disregarded all these clear instructions issued by the PCC.

The Project Director Irrigation last month revealed that revenue record shows that 107 Mouzas have water rights on Gomal Zam for Kulachi Tehsil, against this, 67 Mouzas have been considered in the planning of irrigation system within the project boundary. It is said; this blunder is committed by WAPDA under political influence at the cost of Gandapurs. It needs correction at the earliest. Water should not be released till the bitter problem is corrected. WAPDA has committed a crime of theft, loss of trust, and lack of responsibility.

During the planning of irrigation system by WAPDA, it was estimated that the average inflow is 674Mm/year whereas the network of canal system within the Project boundary is estimated to use only 400Mm/year. This shows the remaining inflow of 200Mm/year is diverted to unauthorized areas. This will not be available to Kulachi Tehsil to cover the area of 107 Mouzas.  It appears that the water rights area of Rod Kohi of Kulachi Tehsil is intentionally ignored. It appears WAPDA has usurped water rights of (107-67)=40 Mouzas of Kulachi Tehsil and gifted it to Tank Tehsil illegally.          

The Project Director WAPDA said, the aspect of water rights was considered in the Feasibility study by the Consultant MS Cyne-et-Biller and the water rights area is completely covered / included in the CCA.

But the Project Director Irrigation was not satisfied with the indirect and vague reply of the P.D. WAPDA in the first meeting of the PCC. P.D. irrigation wanted more assurance and further confirmation. P.D. irrigation said water rights must be confirmed as it is supreme, and shall be fully safeguarded. He further emphasized that WAPDA will be responsible for including and protecting the water rights of the land having water rights of Gomal River water. This was WAPDA’s responsibility. Unfortunately, WAPDA did not listen to any one, and large area of Kulachi Tehsil is ignored and not given their water rights as provided in the Riwaj-e-abpashi. Thus WAPDA violated the 1880 established water rights of Gandapurs of Kulachi Tehsil.

The PC I initially adopted 86.5 % intensity of irrigation on Gomal Zam for the entire CCA of 66000 ha. This is a uniform intensity of irrigation based on equal water distribution as per the Riwaj-e-abpashi. Refer to pages 28, 29. But, the Riwaj-e-abpashi does not mention the intensity of irrigation as there was no such concept. It was rather mentioned that floodwater area has more floodwater rights on storage water than the area getting perennial flow under Gomal Zam as the dam is built to store floodwater. In the use of floodwater under the Rod Kohi System of Irrigation, there was no concept of intensity of irrigation.

Varying intensities of irrigation results in inequitable distribution of floodwater that violates the Riwaj-e-abpashi. This must be understood by WAPDA who are ignorant of these Centuries old established customs and at the same time do not obey the instructions of others.

The Project Director Irrigation said the adoption of higher intensity of irrigation of 120%, 100%, and 60% is not justified according to the Riwaj-e-abpashi because water rights are equitable for all areas. It is not required to introduce varying intensities of irrigation in Gomal Zam Project by WAPDA. This is because, 90% floodwater belongs to Gandapurs of Kulachi as per Riwaj-e-abpashi. WAPDA has wrongly built canal network, providing floodwater on the basis of varying cropping intensities. This needs to be set right.

WAPDA has therefore wasted billions of Rupees and time besides inciting  disputes and law and order problems. This is because on the same canal one area will illegally get 13 times more water than its share, whereas the other deserving area will get half of its legal share in clear violation of the Riwaj-e-abpashi.  The P.D. Irrigation did not agree with the P.D. WAPDA, as varying cropping intensities will create disparity, and unequal distribution of water in water rights, that is not just, as it violates the Riwaj-e-abpashi. This will create water war, disputes, litigations and in-fighting. This will cause great harm to the time-based storage Project of Gomal Zam. WAPDA has clearly violated the water rights as provided in the Riwaj-e-abpashi/Kuliyat and the ‘Bandobast’. This needs immediate correction before the water is released in the canal system otherwise, it will create terrible law and order problems.

The illegality of varying intensities of irrigation in the Riwaj-e-abpashi where the land owners have equal floodwater rights.

It is pointed out that intensity of irrigation in Gomal Zam floodwater is absolutely irrelevant as floodwater rights are equally distributed on the whole area under the Riwaj-e-abpashi. Varying cropping intensities negates this basic principle of the water rights in the Riwaj-e-abpashi. WAPDA officials are foreign to understand and appreciate the local established water rights as provided in the Riwaj-e-abpashi enforced since 1880. Over and above this, WAPDA is obstinate to force its wrong wish, not realizing what the client, the owners of water, the Irrigation Department, and the local concerned peoples repeatedly say. The project should not be based on inequitable distribution of floodwater rights for illegally enforcing varying cropping intensities. The Court may direct WAPDA to stop its further activities till it restores water rights in floodwater of Gomal Zam as per the Riwaj-e-abpashi / Kulyat of 1880 and 1908 and as per Land Settlement.

The crux of the matter and the ground facts to be followed are:-

·       Gomal River floodwater storage is fixed as 848 cusecs.

·       The Riwaj-e-abpashi distributes and provides equal/uniform floodwater rights to all areas in Kulachi Tehsil and for Der villages.

·       The legal area to receive floodwater of Kulachi Tesil is known and is fixed in the CCA.

·       There is no concept of varying intensities of irrigation in the Riwaj-e-abpashi as it results in inequitable distribution of floodwater. The Riwaj distributes uniform floodwater of Gomal Zam on all areas under its girdles/zone. What is the authority to defy these rules.

·       Tank Tesil has no floodwater share from Gomal Reservoir. Tank Tehsil  has 30 cusecs / 30 Jandars of perennial floe from Gomal Zam.

·       Tank Tehsil has its own Major River named Tank Zam shortly to be built.

The details of water rights of Gandapurs as per Riwaj are given as follows:-

*  Kulachi Tehsil water rights areas as per Riwaj-e-abpashi. (143660+20335)=163325 acres.

*  D.I.Khan area (30328 acres). Out of this CRBC covered 20335 acres. Remaining 9993 acres to           be irrigated from the floodwater of Gomal Zam in Kulachi Tehsil being upper riparian. .

*  Tank Tehsil has 700 acres to be irrigated from Gomal Zam.

The floodwater of Gomal Zam equally belongs to each land owner in Kulachi Tehsil. This cannot be altered/interfered with. It depends on the farmers how they use their share of floodwater and to what intensity of irrigation they achieve. The land is fixed, the water quantity is fixed, therefore a uniform intensity of irrigation of 86.5% or whatever it comes to, is to be achieved as assumed in case of equal distribution of water. WAPDA cannot impose 120% and 60% intensity of irrigation by illegally reducing the water rights of one area by half, and illegally raising water of the other area by 13 times as shown above. Here, on Gomal Zam Rewaj-e-abpashi is the law on floodwater use. This is supreme and sacrosanct.

WAPDA has committed a crime of theft of water by usurping the legal share of Gandapurs of Kulachi by drastically reducing the share of its floodwater and ill-legally giving it to the area not eligible to claim Gomal floodwater rights. WAPDA has committed robbery on the water rights of Gandapurs in the garb of intensity of irrigation, violating the Riwaj-e-abpashi.  Please refer to paras 6 and 9 of the PCC meeting held on 24.1.2004 on Gomal Zam floodwater for observing the views of participants. It is not understood how WAPDA dares to play politics and builds mega projects in a wrong way without any authority or concern. This is why Sindh has no trust in WAPDA on Kalabagh Dam. I can quote the failure of half a dozen mega projects wrongly conceived, planned and built or abandoned after failure by WAPDA. It is therefore not new for WAPDA.

.

The Project Director Irrigation informed that as per standing practice, the design and construction of the Project should be on uniform intensity of irrigation from head to tail under the command of flood irrigation system. But surprisingly, the Project Director WAPDA has altered the water rights of Gandapurs of Kulachi Tehsil and gave water illegally to Tank Tehsil.

Extension of canal network, item No 4 of the PCC

Adviser Irrigation said that WAPDA has introduced on the same canal, three different intensities of irrigation ie, 120%, 100% and 60%. This means different amount of water will be given to the land holders who have equal water rights on the same canal. This will be like snatching water rights of Gandapurs of Kulachi and gifting it to the people in the head reach in Tehsil Tank. Will this violation not create terrible disputes? Why WAPDA’s workings are malicious?

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By grabbing Gandapurs water, a core area of 28500 acres along the right bank of LUNI River, the major branch of Gomal River, passing by the side of Kulachi Town, and upto tail area touching the CRBC boundary, has not been included by WAPDA in the command area of the Project having legitimate water rights under Kuliyat/Riwaj-e-abpashi. Besides this, more area is ignored by its random activities. These areas are called “left over area” or intentionally ignored area of Kulachi Town, that is the heart of Gomal floodwater or the Rod-Kohi area, that has established water rights in the Project area since 1880.

The ignored area of Kulachi Town is the most essential area of the Gomal Zam Project. Even a lay man will know that the major branch of Gomal Zam, the LUNI Stream, irrigating area around Kulachi Town, is the heart or the pivotal area of Goml Zam floodwater flow. As a matter of fact, the main canal should have been aligned parallel to the Luni stream. The LUNI Stream passes by the wall city of Kulachi Town.

The Project Consultant Conny-ta-Billar said that “Whatever water is available, the same must be equally and judiciously distributed without depriving any chunk of rightful area”. What the Consultant said, is not followed and not implemented by WAPDA.

Over and above this, the issue of intensity of irrigation was discussed in the First and in the 2^nd meetings of the PCC on Gomal Zam. In the 2^nd meeting it was categorically directed to maintain equity in the distribution of floodwater for irrigation by adopting uniform intensity of irrigation all over the area. To avoid disputes on water rights, the Riwaj-e-abpashi should not be altered. (Refer to item No 9). It was further decided to remodel the canal system for uniform intensity of irrigation what so ever it comes to, so that the deserving area of water rights is served with water and no area is left out. (item No 14)                      

Water Advisor said that in the present EPC contract executed in 2007, the left over area or the ignored area by WAPDA should have been included. This omission and wrong may be rectified in the revised PC4 in consultation with the irrigation department. The chair said varying intensity of irrigation would not be successful. It will create problems, disputes for irrigation department during operation. It was desired to carry out modification and incorporate it in PCI.

In spite of repeated directions and guidance, WAPDA turned deaf ear and did not comply with the instruction of large number of bodies governing the Project at various tiers.

Tank Tehsil has water rights on Tank Zam with dam site at

Hanis Tangi, and not on Gomal Zam

Tank Tehsil has almost no water rights in Gomal Zam passing in the old Gomal nullah and Kot Azam. This is the decision of the Revenue officer of the British era. This decision is dated 20.12.1895 about 117 years ago. The people of Tank knew that they have no rights in Gomal River water. They have their own big river of Tank Zam as the name indicates. Refer to Bandobast on water rights vide page No 30 line, 367 of Bandobust.

However, in case of super floods the over flow from the nullah of Gomal River ie, spill or chal, spread over the villages Shada, Mata, Jamal, Rawai and Azim Mian seldom occur. The area of these villages is 700 acres. The Gandapurs may allow Gomal water to 700 acres. Refer to page 37, line 8 to 11. The people of Tank Tehsil have no water rights in Gomal Zam water. This decision is dated on 8.4.1899.

Mr Bolton report on 1908 on page 5, line 7 to 10 of Bandobast.

Mr Bolton report clears the matter and status that Bunds will not be constructed to divert Gomal water for the above villages in Tank as floodwater of Gomal Zam belongs to Gandapurs of Kulachi Tehsil. This clears the matter of water rights.

Report by Javed Ahmad Mirza-Bundobast 1968

This report reveals that 90% of Gomal water belongs to Kulachi Tehsil and to D.I.Khan. Refer to paragraph 8, 100, 104. Mr Mirza said the people of Tank Tehsil has no water rights in Gomal River water. Tank has its own river the Tank Zam.

Mr Safi Assisstant Commissioner Tank letter No 315/NTI dated 14.10. 1973 confirms that 30 Jandar of perennial water from Gomal Zam has water rights in Gomal Zam water. One Jandar is about one cusec. Tank Tehsil has no water rights on floodwater of Gomal Zam. Please see Kuliyat-e-Gomal Zam page No 12. It says that more than 30 jandar of water is considered as floodwater. These water rights are sacrosanct.

About 30 Jandar water is equivalent to 30 cusecs of perennial water for villages Jamal etc. This may be given to Tank area. Add another 7 cusecs as extra grace water. This comes to 37 cusecs for Tank. The remaining water (848-37)=811 cusecs is for Kulachi Tehsil and Dera Tehsil. Again, out of 811 cusec, 95% water belongs to Kulachi Tehsil and 5% of 811 cusecs to D.I.Khan Tehsil. The Project area shows 66000 ha or 163086 acres in PCI. It seems that a duty of about 200 acres per cusec is assumed for the project by WAPDA.

WAPDA violates Riwaj-e-abpashi knowingly and shows injustice and favoritism at the cost of Kulachi Tesil of Gandapurs.

It is shocking that Tank Tehsil entitled for 30 Jandar/cusecs is given 381 cusecs arbitrarily. Similarly, Waran canal that is a water course with a discharge of about 4 to 5 cusecs is given 240 cusecs almost equal to the discharge of a main canal of some irrigation system. Kulachi and Dera Tehsils that have water rights up to 811 cusecs are given 450 cusecs. This shows pre-planned interference by illegally reducing the share of Kulachi and D.I. Khan Tehsils by half, and illegally increasing the share of Tank by 13 times. This is a clear violation of the Riwaj-e-abpashi/Kuliyat by WAPDA.  Kulachi is deprived of its water rights on its own river that spreads all over Kulachi Tehsil where Gandapurs are settled in search of water more than 450 years ago. Kulachi Tehsil is within the hydrological zone of Gomal River. Tank Tehsil is within the hydrological zone of Tank Zam. WAPDA must understand the hydrological unit for Kulachi Tehsil.

WAPDA played this trick through ‘intensity of irrigation’ in violation of the Riwaj-e-abpashi creating inequality in the equal water rights for all areas. Riwaj-e-abpashi has no concept of the intensity of irrigation. Intensity of irrigation is irrelevant. Three different intensities of irrigation mean to deprive one area of its water rights and give water to an area not entitled for it. This means WAPDA has created three Divides of the same land.

Let WAPDA build Tank Zam for Tank Tehsil. Tank area has a separate hydrological unit.

One thing is most disturbing that the Provincial irrigation Department as a client, the various decisions of the PCC meetings in 2002, 2004 and in 2007, the Project Director irrigation, the Advisor (irrigation) and the Gandapurs of Kulachi-the owners of land, all firmly demand that water rights in the Riwaj-e-abpashi of 1890, 1899, 1895, 1908 and 1968 should not be violated.

In spite of ignoring all the above directions, WAPDA ignored the water rights of Gandapurs reducing their share by half, whereas the share of Tank Tehsil is increased by 13 times, violating the Riwaj-e-abpashi. WAPDA has thus sown the seeds of disputes and bloodshed. WAPDA’s status is no more than a contractor. It should obey what is asked for by the owners of water. WAPDA has played mischief under political influence by introducing the intensity of irrigation. WAPDA using this trick, reduced the water rights of Kulachi Tehsil by half, and increased the water rights of Tank Tahsil by 13 times in violation of the Riwaj-e-abpashi.

Power Generation from Gomal Zam

Gomal Zam is basically built to store floodwater for irrigation use as per the water rights according to the Riwaj-e--abpashi. Power generation is by-product. The water of Gamal Zam cannot be regulated to produce power at the cost of irrigation. Irrigation gets first priority. In Riwaj-e-abpashi there is no mention of power generation. There is no objection to power generation if there is no interference with the releases of water for irrigation. Flow should be regulated according to the irrigation water needs so that water is not wasted. Please refer to Water Accord in this respect for the release of water from the multipurpose Reservoir.

During 1959, I located  three dam sites on Gomal River for power generation,, downstream of the Khajuri Kach Dam site. These sites were pointed out by me during the investigation of Khajuri Katch Dam. If more power is required then build dams on the downstream of Khajuri Katch  Dam on Gomal River.          

This document reveals the history of the development of Rod Kohi Flood Irrigation by the British in 1880 from the hill torrents of Gomal Zam for the Gandapur Pathans of Kulachi by inundating their lands by floodwater to produce food for themselves. It shows the floodwater rights of Gandapurs. The British administration prepared water rights named Riwaj-e-Abpashi / Kultat  for the distribution of water. The British officers reduced this all in writing during their Land Settlement in the later part of nineteen century. The Bolton Irrigation Notes of 1908 are still considered as the Bible of Rod Kohi Irrigation. The area was then most productive in food grains. Now the area of Rod Kohi is in shamble due to official neglect.

God helped Gandapurs that I was posted as the Project Director Gomal Zam. I shifted the Gomal dam site in 1959 to Khajuri Katch Dam site because dam on Gomal River  was  selected at random, and wrongly located in the upper most reach of the Gomal River, harnessing hardly 12% of Gomal waters. The dam site was shifted 30 miles on the downstream below the confluence of Gomal Zam, Zob River, and Wana Toi. The Khajuri Katch Dam site, 30 miles on the downstream of Gul Katch site is spectacular and hardly 80 feet wide at the dam site river bed. I started the preliminaries of the dam in 1959. It should have been completed in 1964. But WAPDA due to its apathy indefinitely delayed its construction and built the Dam in 2012. Even now its canal system is not built.  

Not only this, WAPDA has sown the seeds of disputes between Kulachi and Tank Tehsils by interfering in the Riwaj-e--Abpashi and favoring the people of Tank due to political pressure. God knows how long this will take that Gandapurs get back their water rights? We the Gandapurs pray for justice. In the mean time stay orders be issued and water should not be released in the canal system till water rights of Gandapurs are restored and the canal network remodeled and extended to the area deprived of water rights.

         

Engr. Fateh Ullah Khan Gandapur                                    22.8.2012                               

B.Sc Engg. Ist Division. (Distinction in Dams and Reservoir Engineering), M.ASCE (USA), FIE (Pak)

Former Chairman Indus River System Authority (IRSA).

(The discoverer and initiator of Khajuri Katch Dam site on Gomal Zam in 1959) & 12 mega Dams in Pakistan

Mobile  0300-5920641  Line  051-2106387  email  fatehuk @ gmail. com   Website   fateuk.blogspot.com

Address:  518, F-10/2, Margalla Road (Service Road North), Islamabad.

The water rights of Gandapurs in Gomal Zam fixed under the Riwaj-e-abpashi / Kulayat in 1880 and the Bolton Irrigation Notes of 1908 still considered as the Bible of

Rod Kohi are disregarded by WAPDA

Water rights of Gandapurs usurped

They appeal for Justice

By

Engr. Fateh Ullah Khan Gandapur

B.Sc Eng. First Division, Distinction in Dams and Reservoir Engineering. M.ASCE (USA), FIE (PAK).

Former Chairman Indus River System Authority

Author of: 1. God ,Universe, and Man, the Holy Quran and the Hearafter (1982) and

                   2. God created the Universe with purpose to serve Humankind (2009)

Address;-  518, F-10/2, Margalla Road (Service Road North) Islamabad

Tel; 051-2106387,  0300-5920641.  Email  fatehuk @ gmail.com  Website  fatehuk.blogspot.com 

Happy 65th Independence Day Pakistan 2012

Picture of my 6 months old Great Grand Son Mohammad Abdullah Gandapur

To.

              The Chief Justice of Lahore High Court

              Honorable Umar Ata Bandial ,

              LAHORE.

Sub: Technical status of Kalabagh Dam. Petition by Syed Feroz Gilani in the High Court, Lahore.  (Information for the assistance of the court)

Sir,

              I request the court considering my views based on facts and experience, free of water politics as 37 years long status quo in Kalabagh issue destroyed the country by 2010 floods, 2011 rains, and crippling load shedding.  My views are to help the court by revealing facts. Kalabagh Dam has become a puzzling dilemma for all political parties in power to build or not to build the Dam. Lack of decision has created long status quo. This cancer needs cure.

I am former Chairman IRSA. I have expertise in Dams and Reservoir Engineering and have more than 50 years experience in Water and hydropower development Resources. I am Distinction holder in Dams and Reservoir Engineering. I am the discoverer of 12 mega Dams in Pakistan during the period 1959 to 1962. I was in-charge of Dams Investigation Division. I submit in brief my views on Kalabagh dam’s technical feasibility as I have read all the 27 volumes of Kalabagh Dam Feasibility Report prepared by the Consultants when I was Chairman IRSA in 1994. I want to help solve this ugly issue from professional point of view in national interest.

This is because the controversy and not building dams destroyed the country by 2010 floods and the crippling load shedding due to long status quo intentionally caused by WAPDA. It did  not build any other dam on the Indus though Basha Dam feasibility was ready in 1981. WAPDA stuck to Kalabagh Dam and misguided the people and the Government. Unfortunately all the heads of the Departments are non-professionals who depend on the advice of lower staff.

To settle this ugly issue, I suggested unique substitute of “Raised Fateh Barrage” in place of Kalabagh Dam, involving change in hydraulic design and shifting the dam site about 3 miles upstream in the Indus valley in 1994 when I was Chairman IRSA. Basically the new structure conceived by me is a kind of combination of small dam over Raised Barrage which evacuates silt, passes maximum floods safely, as well as creates reasonable storage, and generates hydropower. My concept of Raised Barrage is in agreement with the consultant’s recommendation as it is clear from the first excerpt quoted in this report. The present site of Kalabagh Dam is on the downstream of Soan River and Indus River. The dam is about two miles long and is on the downstream of the confluence of Indus River and Soan River. None of the four provinces know the technical aspects of Kalabagh Dam. My sincere professional views on a project are in national interest and in the interest of development of sound Water and Power Resources for the country.

I agree, the objections of all the three provinces on Kalabagh Dam are vague, as these are based on lack of information, with no technical knowledge and understanding of the Kalabagh Dam’s hydraulic  design, and its adverse consequences. The provinces only play water politics without knowing the technical side of Kalabagh Dam. No technical objection is made by any province.

Exactly is the case with Punjab, as Punjab too is ignorant and its politicians only aggravate the issue politically that has influenced WAPDA at Lahore. Equally ignorant is WAPDA. Apparently Kalabagh is not the site for the Dam as chosen by WAPDA. This is evident from the poorest Capacity-inflow ratio on the Indus of (6:93). The reservoir will have short life due to rapid silting. Annual silt flow is about 540 million tons, converting this in to volume, it comes to 0.3 maf. The storage capacity of Kalabagh is about 6.1 maf. The reservoir will silt up in about 25 to 30 years as it will not evacuate heavy sediment load that will be deposited upstream of Attock gorge.  At the same time it will cause severe backwater flow and flooding of Peshawar valley.

The silt deposited upstream of Attock gorge will not be evacuated due to wrong hydraulic design imposed by WAPDA on the consultant in the TOR, except a very small amount. Refer to KBD main project report Vol 1. Few excerpts are quoted at the end of this report. Huge silt will be deposited on the upstream of Attock gorge, will create severe backwater flow and flooding in Peshawar valley.  Nowshera and all villages will be severely inundated. Even during 2010 floods, the floodwater level on the G.T road opposite to Nowshera was as high as 12 to 14 feet over the road. This was without a dam at Kalabagh. What will happen after the dam may be imagined.

WAPDA’s motto is “Kalabagh Dam or no Dam”. This is clear from the fact that WAPDA did not build the second dam on the Indus after Tarbela Dam in 37 years. Tarbela was completed in 1974. Surprisingly, Basha Dam feasibility was completed in 1981. It was ready for construction but WAPDA did not built it and stuck to Kalabagh Dam. Basha will be completed in 10 years from now. This means no dam on the Indus for 47 years. It was a great blunder not to build Basha in 1981.

The obstinacy of WAPDA and its political wish and 37 years delay in not building the second dam on the Indus resulted in the devastating floods of 2010, destroying 22 per cent area of fertile land and population, created horrible load shedding, crippling economy, and water shortage beside creating silt problem that results the in loss of storage water. What a colossal loss. WAPDA practically turned into Water and Power Destructive Authority.

For no dams in 37 years, it created 3 maf water shortage for irrigation this season. The water requirements of provinces could not be met. Moreover, Tarbela Reservoir has silt up by about 5 maf of Live storage, against its original storage of 9.6 maf. We have lost about 6.5 maf of Live storage in Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma so far with no replacement by WAPDA. In fact, WAPDA should have built four dams in 37 years. The actual fault for delay and keeping the Government in dark lies with WAPDA.

WAPDA was created in 1958 to develop water and power resources but due to its political affiliation and professional inefficiency, it turned Water and Power Destructive Authority. Please read the attached three papers for ready reference.

Sir, the court will be surprised to know that I suggested in 1961 the construction of unique 35 maf Katzarah Dam with storage capacity of 35 maf of water that is about six times the storage capacity of Kalabagh Dam or Basha Dam. Katzarah Dam will control 100 per cent floods in the Indus River, generate huge hydropower and prevent silt flow in the Indus water. This is because all the silt comes from the Skardu valley that has highly erodible soil as reported by the world Bank hydraulic expert Dr Attaullah in 1974. If Katzarah Dam is built, the life of Basha will increase from about 80 to 90 years to about 700 years. Life of Tarbela will increase by about 45 years. This is a unique quality of building Katzarah Dam. Refer to my web site for article titled “Katzarah Dam short”.

The other multipurpose dam that I suggested in 1961 is the 8.5 maf multipurpose Guroh Dop Dam on Punjkora River. This dam if built will control 100 per cent floods in Kabul River. But, WAPDA is adamant to build Kalabagh Dam to follow its motto of “Kalabagh Dam or no Dam”.

Please refer to the Nisar Memon Parliamentary committee report who visited all the provinces and the AGN Kazi Technical committee report on Kalabagh Dam and other dams including Katzarah. Both the committees recommended Katzarah Dam on the Indus and rejected Kalabagh Dam after hearing the provinces.

To end mad controversy, I suggested a unique, feasible, and multipurpose, substitute replacing Kalabagh Dam in 1994 when I was Chairman IRSA. This substitute is of a “Raised Fateh Barrage”. This is a unique and simple, cheap and immediately implementable project at the end of the main Indus River about 3 miles on the upstream of the Kalabagh Dam site at Elevation of 700 feet. KBD is located at El: 680 feet.

The Raised Barrage can store 3.4 maf of water up to El 86o feet, 4.7 maf at El: 880 feet and about 6.2 maf water at El: 900 feet. Please refer to Kalabagh Dam storage capacity curve. All storage water will be within the Indus River valley. The Raised Fateh Barrage will function as a traditional barrage like Chashma and Taunsa. It will completely evacuate silt and pass maximum floods without causing backwater flow and floods in Kabul river of Peshawar valley. It will not inundate any area in any province.

There is no need of land acquisition and no land compensation. There is almost no population movement as storage is within the Indus River valley. Within the water-way where there is no population. The Raised Fateh Barrage will function as Balancing Reservoir if more power generation is required at Tarbela without the loss of irrigation water. It is highly beneficial for all provinces.

The Raised Fateh barrage installed hydropower generation will nearly be between 2000 MW to 6000 MW on run-of-the-river depending on the amount of flow in the Indus. There will be two power houses located on each bank. One is for Punjab and the other is for KPK. It can irrigate Lakki Marwat area of KPK from the Raised Barrage Reservoir through a tunnel. Raised Fateh Barrage can be completed within two and a half years at a cost of about $ 2 billion.  The major change is in hydraulic design that will evacuate silt and floods. If this proposal was implemented in 1994, there would have been almost no load shedding, and no water shortage. 

The KBD Project consultant suggested “100 days unrestricted low-level silt sluicing hydraulic structure” to evacuate silt and to pass maximum floods whereas, WAPDA wanted to implement “50 days restricted mid-level silt sluicing hydraulic structure” as per the tailored TOR  given by WAPDA to the consultants with instruction to follow what they desire. It was an unusual TOR to force the consultants to do something unprofessional and unusual. This design was to achieve a specific purpose of building the high level left bank canal with a discharge of 15,000 cusecs. Excerpt on TOR quoted at the end of this report.

WAPDA’s restricted mid-level sluicing design will cause huge and rapid deposition of silt upstream of the Attock gorge, severe backwater flow, and flooding, in Peshawar valley. The floodwater will inundate Nowshera town, and other vast areas. The entire area will become calamity hit area.

 It may be noted that during the 2010 floods when there was no dam at Kalabagh, all area around Nowshera was inundated up to 12 to 14 feet floodwater, flowing over the GT Road opposite to Nowshera Town. What will happen after the dam?

The dependable power generation from Kalabagh Dam, after reducing its height from 925 feet to 915 feet, is about 1250MW and not 3450 MW as claimed by WAPDA. Kalabagh Dam will be on run-of-the-river for about more than three months in a year to pass floodwater. One month will be spent in empting and filling the reservoir. Therefore there will be no power generation during this period.

Surprisingly, to support the low hydropower generation, WAPDA has instructed the consultants to install 2000 MW of Thermal Power Plant attached to Kalabagh Dam. WAPDA falsely claim that KBD will produce 3450 MW of power. Besides this, there are many other flaws.

The Kalabagh Dam site is not for a high dam due to weak foundation, therefore the Project Consultant  have recommended that the hydraulic head of the structure at this site should not be higher than 160 feet due to weak foundation, whereas, WAPDA is building 260 feet high dam at Kalabagh. Refer to Volume XIII Miscellaneous, July 1988, the report by Prof Skemton and Mr Little, the consultants for Kalabagh Dam.

The risk is taken because WAPDA wants to take off a high level canal with a discharge of 15,000 cusecs on the left bank of the Indus River. This is the reason that Sindh has lost trust in WAPDA and objects to Kalabagh Dam.

WAPDA is not at all trust worthy because it kept the design of Kalabagh Dam secret from NWFP as stated by the then Member Water Mr Shams ul Mulk in a meeting held at Peshawar with the Additional Chief Secretary Development (Mr Khalid Azia) who demanded a copy of the Kalabagh Dam feasibility report for study. The Additional Chief Secretary was surprised to hear the answer of Member Water who refused to give a copy of the report as it was a secret document/classified document. The ACS said: how is it that you are building a dam in our territory and the design is kept secret from NWFP? Member Water could no longer refuse and gave a set of the Kalabagh Dam feasibility report.

Besides this, WAPDA provided freak design of 50 days restricted mid-level silt sluicing hydraulic structure in a freak TOR that will not evacuate silt and cause severe backwater flow and flooding in Kabul River in Peshawar valley. This design was adopted to build a dam with a height of 260 feet to be able to build Left Bank Canal.

For more information on Kalabagh Dam and on water development resources, please refer to my website “ fatehuk. blogspot. Com”. The website contains about 100 articles, on Water and power issues of Pakistan and their solutions. The website is visited by about 8500 Research workers and Engineers throughout the world. Also refer to articles on Substitute for KBD, on Kalabagh Dam, and on Water and Power Destructive Authority, Katzarah Dam, Guroh Dop Dam, Akhori Dam and many other dams, besides suggesting many water and power projects

I am 86 years old, and recently unable to walk due to knee joints problem. I therefore cannot attend the court. In case, my advice is needed, I would suggest, the court may appoint  a commission  to record my views at my residence. My address is: 518, F-10/2, Margalla Rosd,  Islamabad. My line No is 051-2106387 and my mobile is : 0300-5920641. My email address Is  Fatehuk @ gmail. com.

I submit to the honorable Court few excerpts from the Kalabagh Dam project report indicating serious silt problem due to unsuitable hydraulic design because Kalabagh is not the site for a dam but for a barrage. The consultants have also indicated this in technical language in the excerpt immediately below, shown in bold besides other excerpts quoted below:-

·       “In Principle there is no specific mode of operation that must be adhered each year in order to sluice sediment from KBD, but the lower the draw down level, the longer this level is maintained and the higher the flows then the more effective the sluicing will be”. Refer to KBD project report page 3.8, para3.27. (This quotation in technical language suggests low level sluicing hydraulic structure like a barrage with unrestricted low level silt sluicing structure. The consultant could not over look the rigid TOR. Therefore they expressed their views in technical language. Let WAPDA understand it. )

·       “The high sediment load carried by the Indus at Kalabagh has an important bearing on the design of KBD and on the operation rules for the reservoir. If a high proportion of sediment is trapped the storage volume would rapidly reduce with the loss of irrigation benefits derived from storage. Such sedimentation could eventually also cause unacceptable backwater effects”. Refer to Project Report 1988, page 3.5, para 3.17.

·        This excerpt shows that silt evacuation depends on the design of the dam as it has an important bearing on the design of Kalabagh Dam.

·       “However although draw down is required for irrigation benefits, the lower the draw down level and the longer the sluicing period, the greater is the loss of power and energy generation”. Refer to Project report 1988, page 3.8, para 3.27     

“Upstream of Attock the flood levels are sensitive to the amount of sediment so that flood level will increase with time”. 

·       The future distribution of sediment can be predicted in general terms only and local behavior will depend on actual sediment inflows, reservoir operation and local flow pattern”.

·       “No immediate solution to sediment management seems to be practically viable”.

·       “In the long run the generation of power will be on run-of-the-river”.

Refer to project report para 3.17, page 4.12, para 4.57, page 3.9, para 3.31.

Tailored TOR

“Basically the design criteria were set during the initial appraisal of scheme and development out line design. These were based on the requirements of the client through the Terms of Reference or subsequent instructions”. Refer to Project Volume N, Appendix N.

IRSA rejected the hydraulic design of restricted mid-level silt sluicing of Kalabagh Dam on 22.10. 1996 with 4:1 majority as the design would not evacuate silt. Refer to The Frontier Post. The consultants recommended “50 days restricted low-level silt sluicing structure”.

“Mr Yuki Tanabe, a representative of Japan Centre of Sustainable Society has termed the proposed Kalabagh Dam disastrous for people, agriculture, and environment. Refer to DAWN datd September, 2006”.

W APDA overlooked all above.

Recommendations

The proposed “Raised Fateh Barrage” is a trouble free, short term, cheap, technically sound, and a multipurpose, non-controversial and unique substitute for KBD. It is a highly improved and flawless version of Kalabagh Dam nearly at the same location. It will use all technical deta collected for Kalabagh Dam. The KBD colony at site will be used. Dispute and political controversy will end. It will evacuate silt and pass maximum floods. It will cause no backwater flow and flooding in Peshawar valley. It needs no land acquisition, no land compensation and almost no population displacement because the storage will be within the waterway. It generates hydropower and creates storage from 3.4 maf to 6.2 maf.

The consultants should work out which storage is the best and economical. It will mitigate floods and serve as Balancing Reservoir. This project will give breathing time for undertaking other mega storage dams on the Indus. Let WAPDA EGO allow this unique, substitute project, and appreciate it in national interest. This is to end sufferings of the people created by WAPDA.

   

Engr. Fateh ullah Khan  Gandapur, Former Chairman IRSA.           Dated Aug, 9, 2012.

B.Sc Engg’, ist Division, (Distinction in Dams and Reservoir Engineering), M.ASCE (USA), FIE (Pak)

518, F-10/2, Margalla Road, Islamabad.  Mobile  0300-5920641  and  051-2106387.

Copy to:

              The Secretary Water and Power, Islamabad

              Chairman Indus River System Authority, Islamabad

              The Chief Minister of KPK, Chief Minister House, PESHAWAR

              Chief Minister Government of Sindh, KARACHI

              Chief Minister of Government of Punjab, LAHORE

              Chief Minister of Baluchistan, QUETTA   For information and further action      

              

Water and Power Destructive Authority

Water and Power development Authority turned Water and Power Destructive Authority. This is because the Water and Power Destructive Authority has showered rain of miseries on 180 million people of Pakistan due to its inefficiency, incapability, stubbornness, lack of initiative and deep involvement in politics of “Kalabagh Dam or no Dam”. Besides this, it failed to warn Government in time, and failed to foresee water and power requirements of the growing population. The whole country is on fire due to 18 to 20 hours of crippling load shedding (never heard before). Moreover, it failed to control floods and silt. Police shot two people dead while demonstrating against load shedding.

The development of water and power for agriculture, industries and business, means prosperity and peace in Pakistan. If this is not provided, un-ending terrorism will prevail and spread, as terrorism will become lucrative source of living. People due to poverty are selling their children and committing suicide. Therefore develop water and power resources at once as article 38 of the constitution requires. 

For no dams on the Indus in a period 47 years, about 22 per cent of Pakistan most fertile and populated area destroyed by the historic and destructive floods of 2010 and by the devastating rains of 2011, destroying Sindh due to disappearance of the natural drainage system by unchecked encroachments. Sindh has become the drainage bowl where flood and rain water stagnates for years. Sindh must demand dams on the main Indus to control floods. The infeasible and superseded Akhori Dam proposed by WAPDA as substitute for Kalabagh is not the solution. Go for direct reservoirs on the main Indus to control floods and silt, and to generate hydropower and store water going waste to sea.

This year the alarming water shortage is 9.2 maf as reported by IRSA. Please see The News dated August 4, 2012.  This colossal shortage is very alarming as I fear the irrigation system may not become non-perennial or seasonal within the next 20 years if dams are not built immediately. The solution lies only in building the unique 35 maf Katzarah Dam and not the indirect and superseded Akhori Dam.

Severe load shedding caused rioting in every city of Pakistan. This is shameful. People have gone psychic. Business of all types suffered to the roots. Industries are closed. People have gone out of job. students, children, Doctors, house wives, tailors and all small technicians suffered heavily. Patient’s sickness lying in hospitals increased. Pakistan lost $3 billion in 3 years due to energy crisis reports the Daily Observer. These are the grounds for terrorism to continue.

Due to the absence of multipurpose Dams on the main Indus for the last 37 years and another 10 years for Basha to be completed, 47 years in all, Pakistan is destroyed economically and physically by floods of 2010, rains of 2011 and the unending crippling load shedding by the so-called Water and Power Development Authority. Over and above, water shortage reached to 9.2 maf. This will create food problem. Water and Power Destructive Authority was still stubbornly sticking to the motto of “Kalabagh Dam or no Dam” even after destroying the country economically and physically. No one worries. No one feels responsible. For all these miseries, WAPDA is responsible if water and power not developed and peace is not restored and source of living is not created.

I have given a unique substitute for Kalabagh Dam nearly at the very same location in the Indus River valley, with changed hydraulic design to evacuate silt. The substitute for KBD is the  “Raised Fateh barrage” but the destructive Authority wants nothing but Kalabagh Dam that has become part of DNA of WAPDA engineers. WAPDA has a problem of ego if someone gives good suggestions as they feel small after keeping hoards consultants and advisors.

The floods of 2010 dislocated about 8 million people of Sindh beside the people of Punjab, NWFP and Baluchistan. The 2010 floods caused 2856 breaches in the Indus Bunds and canal system. Floods damaged 2300 Km of roads. About 2000 people died in floods as there was no dam on the Indus. WAPDA forgets this terrible dislocation of population but cares most for the small dislocation of population by the unique, 35 maf Katzarah Dam which it opposes on the grounds of dislocation of population.

Now watch the headlines of the country’s top Daily Newspapers what the people say on water and power shortage:

·       Planning Commission warns of a Water crisis. (The News June 30, 2012)

·       Punjab power outages spark violent protests, as Electricity short fall rising to 8500 MW (Observer 18 June 2012 and the Daily Azkar).

·       Power riots turn violent in Punjab, 20 hours shortage (Observer June 19, 2012)

·       Disorder in Punjab, as riots rage. Train set on fire (Dawn June 19, 2012)

·       Power shortage to worsen in future. (The News (30.5.2012)

·       Pakistan lost $18 billion due to energy crisis in 3 years. (Observer August 1,2012)

·       105 maf water wasted last year. (Sept 22, 2011)

·       Dams vital to save Sindh from flooding. (The News)

·       Punjab foresees Rabi water crises. (Sept 29, 2011)

·       Energy crisis leading to destruction. Ansari. (Observer. August 2, 2012)

·       US Senate report cautions against Water War in South Asia. (Dawn, 22.6. 2011)

·       US Intelligence sees global water conflict risk rising.(News 28.3.2012)

·       Water War warning. (News 23.2.2012)

·       Water issue could sweep away Indo-Pakistan peace process.( News 25.4.2012)

·       Global famine if India Pakistan un-leash nukes: Study. (Dawn 25.4.2012 and Observer).

·       India to help Afghanistan build 12 dams on Kabul River. News (12.5. 2011)

·    How can peace be achieved when chances of nuclear water war is feared.

·    Forcible occupation of Kashmir by India is the potential source of nuclear water war as all Pakistani Rivers originate from Kashmir. India has built more than 32 hydraulic structures on Pakistani Rivers, including big dams, reports Senator John Kerry to US Senate: The excerpt is “India has acquired the ability to store enough water to limit the supply of water to Pakistan at critical moment in the growing season”. Senator John Kerry reports to US Senate fearing water war between India and Pakistan.

·    The whole problem is created by the wrong partition of India as the hydrologic unit from where Pakistani Rivers originate and the canal head works have gone to India. This is a great sore point, a potential source of conflict. UN must enforce the 62 years old referendum in occupied Kashmir to ensure peace in the region.

Water and Power Destructive Authority’s shameful mega projects failures brought to Government notice for action to avoid further losses in future

·       Kachi Canal alignment from Mithan Kot badly failed to irrigate lands due to wrong planning by WAPDA. It was abandoned on the quiet after causing loss of billions of rupees. Government took no action.

·       To control Salinity, evacuate injurious salts out of the area, reclaim land, and maintain salt and water balance in the soil, drainage project by the name of SCARP was prepared by WAPDA with a wrong concept of drainage through tube wells, ignoring the correct drainage through surface and sub-service tile drainage to evacuate and control salinity out of the area. This was planned because the Destructive Authority did not know the correct definition of drainage. This resulted in billions of losses in Dollars. This was also abandoned on the quiet.

·       Again, another mega drainage project was planned by the name of National Drainage Programme, NDP to control and evacuate salinity. This too failed resulting in billions of dollars losses.   

·       After the failure of the two mega drainage projects to control and evacuate salinity out of the area and after incurring losses in billions of Dollars, the Destructive Authority finally abandoned the drainage schemes, the vital component of irrigation as a bad job. WAPDA never knew the correct solutions to the salinity problem. The correct and established method to control and remove salinity out of the area is to provide sub-surface tile drainage and not the tube wells that circulate groundwater drainage effluent. The world’s largest irrigation system is now without drainage system. The Indus basin irrigation system is subjected to sever salinity and sodicity.

·       One million small tube wells installed in the Indus basin are pumping indiscriminately about 45 maf of injurious saline drainage effluent from the ground as groundwater, injecting about 350 million tons of salts in the soil. The one million small tube wells are functioning as anti-drainage system circulating salinity. The Indus basin will almost lose fertility gradually and invisibly in a period of about 40 years If sub-surface tile drainage is not provided as early as possible.

·       WAPDA run by hired persons and headed by non professional Chairman is ignorant, and helpless to handle these serious matters.

·       The dam site for Kalabagh Project at the end of the Indus River is absolutely wrong as it receives about 540 million tons of silt from a catchment area of 110500 squire miles. Converting this silt in maf, it comes to about 0.3 maf per annum. This will create terrible silt problem and backwater flow in Kabul River. Surprisingly, under a wrong and tailored TOR, WAPDA directed the project consultants to provide 50 days restricted mid-level silt sluicing hydraulic structure to evacuate silt that is not possible because of wrong design to evacuate silt. The consultants therefore suggested 100 day low-level silt sluicing hydraulic structure to evacuate silt.

·       WAPDA refused to adopt the consultants design. Besides this, Kalabagh became highly controversial politically as WAPDA officials created terror in Nowshera that floodwater level will rise by few feet and the houses will be inundated up to certain level. WAPDA marked the walls of the houses in Nowshera. Thus, the destructive authority created fear besides technical controversy and political controversy. This controversy is stretched to 37 years and counting Basha completion of 10 years to 47 years. There will be no dam on the Indus for 47 years. This means, problems of water and hydropower, problems of rapid silting and devastating floods will continue unabated. This has already resulted in floods of 2010, rains of 2011 and the unending crippling load shedding causing billions of $ losses. Water shortage this year has touched 9.2 maf, almost equal to the combined storage of Kalabagh and Basha Dams. While planning the Kalabagh dam at the end of the valley, the capacity-inflow ratio at the site was ignored that is the poorest in the world. This indicated the site is not suitable even for a short-lived dam.

·       Not only this, the destructive Authority has now proposed a rejected and superseded project of Akhori Dam. Akhori was rejected by Dr Pieter Lieftnick Head of the world Bank team with a height of 250 feet in 1968. The destructive Authority revised Akhori Project by raising its height from 250 feet to 420 feet. WAPDA avoids building a dam on the main Indus except Kalabagh. Therefore, the highly problematic and infeasible off-channel storage at Akhori is selected for the next dam after Tarbela, ignoring the main 35 maf storage dam at Katzarah. The present water shortage of 9.2 maf is ignored by WAPDA.

The IRSA Act indicates that the Chairman WAPDA is ex-officio Member IRSA with no power to vote. This shows the Chairman must be an irrigation expert, engineer to actively participate and contribute. Contrary to this, WAPDA Chairman is non-professional political man who never attends the meetings. Similarly, Member Water is always found disinterested and inert person. He too has never attended IRSA meetings. The so called Water and Power Development Authority is represented by a retired irrigation engineer appointed as consultant and Advisor.

The professional value of WAPDA confines to the knowledge of the retired engineers who are directed to follow the directions of the boss. WAPDA has no professional capability as retired engineers are appointed as Advisor and consultant to run the organization. The Authority created dark and doom-like conditions. This will prevail for about 20 years till multipurpose dams on the Indus and Punjkora River are built. At the same times, coal discovered in the country must be used to generate power. I foresee floods this year and in the coming years.

All previous Governments seem to be blind for not taking action on the failure of WAPDA for not preventing 2010 floods and 2011 rain losses besides other failures of mega projects. WAPDA simply stuck to “Kalabagh Dam or no dam”. These calamities and losses could easily be avoided if dams were built in time on the Indus River. I am surprised how these doubtful projects are approved by the ECNEC? The ECNEC also share responsibility. 

I recommend, WAPDA head quarter be shifted to Islamabad, like of IRSA, to jointly implement storage based Water Accord. IRSA has demanded 22 maf of storage. The infeasible Akhori is not capable to meet 22 maf of IRSA water requirements whereas, The 35 maf Katzarah alone meets this requirement. Please see my blog on Water issues and their solutions. (fatehuk.blogspot.com). My blog contains about 100 articles on water issues that is visited by about 8500 engineers and researchers throughout the world.

Engr Fateh ullah Khan Gandapur.                                                                 August 5, 2012

Former Chairman IRSA. B,Sc Engg: first Division. (Distinction in Dams and Reservoirs), M.ASCE (USA), FIE (Pak).  518,F/10-2, Margalla Road Islamabad. Mobile  0300-5920641,  051-2106387