Kalabagh dam case: Why undisputed dams not being built, asks SC

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar while hearing a case about construction of dams in the country, at Karachi registry of the apex court, has vowed to address the water shortage.

Justice Saqib Nisar asserted that the Supreme Court will move forward for construction of dams and will play its role.

The CJP said that if Kalabagh dam is not a solution then what is its alternate. “If the four brothers are not agreed over the dam then what is an alternate solution,” Justice Saqib Nisar said.

The bench asked, why the undisputed dams projects are not being implemented. How the dams can be constructed in the country, the court posed the question.

Justice Saqib Nisar observed that the country has lost its capability of legislation. “You give us suggestions, we will recommend for the legislation to the parliament,” the chief justice said. “If the nation empower the Supreme Court, it is prepared to play its role”.

Drought-like conditions

It is pertinent to mention here that the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has recently called for an immediate water management strategy (by all the stakeholders) to avoid negative impacts of deficit rainfall on water and agriculture.

The weather department has said that due to deficient rainfall, drought like conditions have emerged in the most parts of Pakistan explaining that moderate-to-severe drought was prevailing in barani areas of Punjab, lower KP, South Punjab, southwest Balochistan and southeast Sindh.

On the other hand, dry condition was observed in southern parts of the country during the past five months. “This dry condition caused water stress in the agriculture areas of the country that demands availability of more supplementary irrigation water for Kharif crops”, the PMD said.