Gandapur terms Kalabagh Dam ‘essential for state’

ISLAMABAD:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said on Monday that construction of Kalabagh Dam was ‘essential for the state’ and urged that concerns over the controversial project should be addressed through dialogue.

Speaking to reporters after a party meeting at K-P House in Islamabad, Gandapur blamed the absence of large dams for the devastation caused by rains and floods.

“We are afraid to even name some dams. Kalabagh Dam is necessary for the state, and if there are reservations, they should be addressed through talks,” he said. “We are ready to contribute our share in its construction, and other provinces should also play their part so the project can be realised.”

The chief minister admitted that delays in building dams had led to the disasters. He said his provincial government was taking independent steps, having completed six dams last year, including Gomal, which reduced flood losses.

“We are constructing dams in various districts to minimise risks in future,” he added. Gandapur said a new Jabba Dam was being built to protect Peshawar, while a protective wall had been erected in Budhni to protect the city against floods.

He also addressed recent flash floods in Buner, saying they were the result of a cloudburst and not deforestation. “Cloudbursts occur due to rising heat in the atmosphere and can happen anywhere. To block rocks carried by floods, nets will be installed on the Swiss model,” he said.