President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

[Khehkeshan]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/29/local21.htm

HYDERABAD: Dams on Indus River opposed

Bureau Report

HYDERABAD, April 28: The Sindh National Party on Friday took out a procession form the Wadhoo Wah to the Hyderabad bypass in protest against the inauguration of Bhasha-Diamer dam and the proposed construction of Kalabagh on the Indus River. (Silly Billy, you were saying?)

A large number of women and children participated in the protest march.

SNP chairman Amir Bhambhro led the protesters.

The protesters raised slogans against the government and anti-Sindh projects.

The rally adopted several resolutions demanding an end to the demolition of old villages, release of JSQM leader Dr Safdar Sarki, JSMM leaders Nawaz Khan Zounr, Muzaffar Bhutto, Sattar Hakro and Baloch leader Rauf Sasoli.*(Illegal detention and torture of those who don’t agree with Punjab, nobody knows where these people are. This is Musharraf’s enlightened moderation?) *

It demanded that the NFC award should be announced on the basis of revenue generation and the deprivation of areas, all water projects on the Indus River be abandoned, the Khokhropar route be closed, army operation in Balochistan should be called off and nine million illegal immigrants should be repatriated to their countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bhambhro said that Sindh belonged to Sindhis and warned that if conspiracies were not stopped, the consequences would be disastrous.

He said that the main objective of protest was to send a message to the government that if excesses against Sindh were not stopped and Sindhis were denied their constitutional rights, then all the roads leading to Punjab would be blocked.

He demanded that Sindh should be given a complete provincial autonomy as envisaged in the 1940 resolution.

He said that centuries-old villages were being demolished in Karachi and Hyderabad and robberies were being committed on the water of Sindh.(I see a rift between MQM and Sindhi parties on this)

Mr Bhambhro said that conspiracies were afoot to destroy Sindh through the construction of dams and canals on the Indus River.

He alleged that the activists of nationalist parties were being arrested and made to disappear.

He called upon the nationalist parties to give up drawing room politics and commence the politics of resistance for the rights of Sindh. (A good suggestion for all parties in Pakistan)

[Khehkeshan]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@antiobl

“never”?

Yes, never on important matters like Kalabagh Dam that will have a profound effect on Sindh. Seven unanimous resolutions have passed in Sindh assembly against KBD. This has had no effect on Punjab and Islamabad’s determination to push through with the project despite all the protests, resolutions, and condemnations. Likewise with the Thal canal which was opposed by Sindh. It’s as if Sindh does not really exist in the minds of the rulers.

What more proof do you need to realize that Pakistan government is anti-Sindh? It’s actions that speak louder then words and the actions are there for everyone to see. Imagine if there was a stong movement like this in Punjab against some project. No one in Islamabad would then dare to speak in favour of such a project.

[Capricorn]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@2paki

thats bull. what you’ve gotta understand is that the damn is supported by more than 50% of the population - ie a majority. Unless ur proposing that pakistan there a dictatorship of the sindhis i don’t see how any arguement against the damn holds. Anyway, its only cos a lot fo the water is wasted in sindh and can be better used in punjab.

Take some time out to read the principles of Federation where the consensus of all federating units is required and not the opinion on individual count or percentage population. Punjab consists of 50% of population of Pakistan. If it says there would be no water below Punjab, this would be legal in your language but not in terms of the constitution. Get your concepts right and come up again.

Coming back to your superfluous knowledge of water losses, I have a question for you. Where eactly in Sindh do you think water is being wasted?

[Silly_Billy]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

Any opinion polls to show that 99% of Sindh's population are against the Bhasha dam? No major political party in the province i.e. PML, MQM or even PPP have voiced serious opposition to it, after President Musharraf opened construction of the dam.

All four provinces, especially NWFP have supported the dam from the beginning instead of other (as yet) more controversial dams. President Musharraf (a Mohajir from Sindh, not a Punjabi) deserves great credit for implementing a decision supported by a consensus in the federation.

[Capricorn]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@Khehkeshan

**(I see a rift between MQM and Sindhi parties on this)

Yeah it is a point on which we disagree. Urban masses being led by MQM lately have a growing feeling that they control the destiny of Sindh. Classicaly speaking, rise and fall of nations/races/ethnicities are cyclic and governed by the invisible hands of nature, I see that whoever has resorted to baloon himself with artificial airs does rise a little only to fall with increased gravitational pull when the air gets out. If anything sustains is the actual weight one has.

Sanity demands and it demands since 47 for the immigrants to identify themselves with the new land they have inhabitated. These immigrants have no connection with UP and Bihar anymore. International naturalization laws demand the immigrant to merge with the new culture and seize to be the one prior to immigration. Unfortunately we still have Muhajirs as a defining word for immigrants who actively seek for their mundane rigths compromising on the principles and policies which aim at cutting down the branch they themselves dwell on. Artificial airing that Urban Sindh does not require water and that the water is needed by the poor people living in the rural areas of Sindh is a fallacy. This has to be addressed in a serious manner to naturalise immigrants once for all. One can not keep the identity of Muhajir indefinitely. No one in history has kept it. Why you?

[Capricorn]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@Silly Billy

President Musharraf (a Mohajir from Sindh, not a Punjabi) deserves great credit for implementing a decision supported by a consensus in the federation.

The emphasis in parenthasis (sp?) conveys a bias which I understand. Let me remind you that a number of Resolutions have been passed by the Sindh Assembly that NO ANY Reservoir be made on Indus. If it does not suffice to be counted as a ruling for you, I can not carry on citing from number of speeches made by fallan, dhimkana leader of xyz party.

[Capricorn]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@2paki

mate u have gone right over my arguement. i hope u understand english because i am trying to make this as clear as possible.
Pakistan is supposedly a democratic society. If u want to change government politices you have to get a majority. If you can’t and u still want change, u hav to get a dictatorship in place. So, within the current legal framework of pakistan, the government is compelled to follow the interests of the majority regardless of the impact on a minority. PERIOD.
At the same time i doubt the impact would be as severe as u suggest it to be. Sindhis need to get rid of this anti-punjab inferiority complex. We don’t think we’re superior and therefore deserve all the resources. We think if ur pakistani u deserve a fair go.

Read the constitution or get a counselling. PERIOD

[antiobl]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@Khehkeshan

Yes, never .....

Only tribal people say "Never" to the development and large projects. Sindh can definitely suggest and argue for design changes like height of the dam, the size of gates, the canal size etc.

Never on the other hand simply means, the guy has no clue what the heck is going on, but he is gonna bob his head saying nah nah nah until a white bus comes by to take'm to loony asylum.

[Khehkeshan]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

Capricorn, the identity of mohajirs is an important topic that deserves its own space.

antiobl, most mega projects are over hyped and Basha is no exception. First priority should be to fix the irrigation system to make it more efficient. Right now the Indus delta is in dire need of more water from upstream. Until that happens, Sindh will continue to say NEVER to any storage dam. It's an issue of realizing what the priority should be and if Sindh’s protests mean anything in this country.

[antiobl]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@Khehkeshan

.....antiobl, most mega projects are over hyped and Basha is no exception. First priority should be to fix the irrigation system to make it more efficient. ....

OK then, If water distribution system needs to be fixed, then Sindh Irrigation department should shout for the funding.

Saying nah nah nah nah to dam construction is negative approach.
Asking (rather shouting) for funds to upgrade canal system OTOH is positive one.

Just take the positive approach and you can get funds.

[mAd_ScIeNtIsT]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

This thread has been cleaned up to remove personal attacks and other violations of forum policy. Keep it clean from now on.

[Khehkeshan]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@antiobl

OK then, If water distribution system needs to be fixed, then Sindh Irrigation department should shout for the funding.

Saying nah nah nah nah to dam construction is negative approach.
Asking (rather shouting) for funds to upgrade canal system OTOH is positive one.

Just take the positive approach and you can get funds.

I would agree that Sindh Irrigation dept needs to move faster, but like most provinical depts it is toothless. It’s the federal govnt’s negative approach towards building dams to try to solve a problem that wil only get worse with more dams that needs to be addressed. If Sindh had control over its finances than things could be different at least locally.

It is not a negative approach to protest against dams that will take away water from Sindh that is already suffereing from drought like conditions in many areas.

[antiobl]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@Khehkeshan

.....

A.......I would agree that Sindh Irrigation dept needs to move faster,

but

B...... 1. like most provinical depts it is toothless. 2. It's the federal govnt's negative approach towards building dams ..... 3. If Sindh had control over its finances than things could be different at least locally. .........

You got it right with A above. Then started a set of excuses in B. This is an old logic. Mommy mommy he did it, he did it. Now this may win you some favors at home. But in the real world, excuses lead to just one path: More excuses.

[Khehkeshan]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

In the real world you need money to do anything. Sindh has to give all its money to Islamabad which uses it to make large dams and buy F-16s.

[antiobl]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@Khehkeshan

In the real world you need money to do anything. Sindh has to give all its money to Islamabad which uses it to make large dams and buy F-16s.

What's the yearly budget of Sindh?

Is it zero Rupees or any more?

[Silly_Billy]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@Capricorn

The emphasis in parenthasis (sp?) conveys a bias which I understand. Let me remind you that a number of Resolutions have been passed by the Sindh Assembly that NO ANY Reservoir be made on Indus. If it does not suffice to be counted as a ruling for you, I can not carry on citing from number of speeches made by fallan, dhimkana leader of xyz party.

The Mohajir community are not against the Bhasha dam, and neither has any mainstream political party come out against President Musharraf's historic opening of the construction work last week.

[Khehkeshan]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

antiobl, I don't have the exact figures on hand, but suffice to say Sindh generates 70% of Pakistan's revenue and gets ~3% back. Sindh has done some work in lining canals but its too little especially since so little gets released to Sindh anyway.

Silly Billy, even if "mainstream" political parties (PML and PPP?) said anything against Basha the army rulers would simply ignore them and label them anti-development. The important thing here is that Sindh's majority is against large storage dams on the Indus for good reason. See my thread on wastage on the Indus.

[antiobl]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@Khehkeshan

antiobl, I don't have the exact figures on hand, but suffice to say Sindh generates 70% of Pakistan's revenue and gets ~3% back. .....

Baboo! Get the exact figures if you want to support your accusations. Repeating lies won't help your cause.

[Captain1]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@antiobl

What’s the yearly budget of Sindh?

Is it zero Rupees or any more?

Sindh does not earn any money, it only BEGS from Federal to survive, poor Sindh :bailan: … read details here: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/PAKISTANEXTN/Resources/Pakistan-Development-Forum/Sindh.pdf

[antiobl]

Re: President Musharraf opens work on Diamer-Basha Dam

@Captain1

Sindh does not earn any money, it only BEGS from Federal to survive, poor Sindh :bailan: … read details here: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/PAKISTANEXTN/Resources/Pakistan-Development-Forum/Sindh.pdf

So does every other friggin province in the country. That is why they are “part” of a country and not an independent state. I thought people on this forum would know a little bit about Pakistan.