PMS 2019 Solved Pakistan Affairs Past Papers | Write a Short Note on Diamer-Bhasha Dam
The following question of PMS Pakistan Affairs 2019 is solved by Miss Iqra Ali, the best Pakistan Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question Breakdown
In this question, one needs to write a note on the Diamer-Bhasha dam, its potential contributions to the national grid, water security and food security the and the criticism faced by the dam construction.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Diamer-Bhasha Dam Details
3-Favourable Outcomes of Diamer-Bhasha Dam
- ✓Energy Security
- ✓Water Security
- ✓Food Security
4-Controversy over the Diamer-Bhasha Dam
- ✓Disputed Location
- ✓Seismic and Ecological Imbalance
- ✓Lack of International Financial Support
- ✓Local Resistance and Displacement
- ✓Loss of Farmland
- ✓Dispute over Total Cost of the Project
5-Conclusion
Introduction
Pakistan has been facing grave energy shortages in recent decades. Amidst the energy crisis, the construction of the Diamer Bhasha dam aims to reduce the energy shortages faced by the country. The dam is part of a five-dam cascade project planned on the river Indus and located in Gilgit Baltistan, and is expected to bring energy security, food security and water security to the country. However, the dam is not barred from criticism. Its disputed location, concerns regarding the seismic and ecological imbalance, lack of international financial support, local resistance and displacement, loss of farmland, and dispute over the total cost of the project have created hurdles in its successful completion. Nonetheless, the project will be a great milestone for the country once completed as it will address some of the country’s burgeoning crises.
Diamer-Bhasha Dam Details
The Diamer Bhasha dam, part of North Indus River Cascade scheme of Water and Power Development Authority’s (WAPDA) Vision 2025, is a multi-purpose dam located at the Diamer district of Gilgit Baltistan. It is approximately 315 km upstream of the Tarbela Dam and 40 km downstream of the Chilas city. It is basically a Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) with a height of 272m–expected to be one of the tallest dams of the world– and with a gross storage of 8.1 million acres feet (MAF) and live storage of 6.4 (MAF). The dam has the capacity to generate 4500 MW of electricity, store water for irrigation, and contribute to food security.
Favorable Outcomes of Diamer-Bhasha Dam
- Energy security
Pakistan significantly faces the crisis of load shedding and power outages, especially during the monsoon seasons. This is why the country ranks 115th among 137 economies for reliable power. The Diamer Bhasha dam has a power generation capacity of 4500 Megawatt (MW); thus, it can add 18 billion units to the national grid a year. This will address the country’s longstanding concern of energy woes and provide an environmental clean source of energy.
- Water Security
Pakistan stands third in the nations facing severe water shortages. According to the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Sources (PCRWR), the country will soon face a drought-like situation. The major reason for this water shortage is the water-intensive economy, with the fourth-highest rate of water use. Moreover, the country can only save 9% of the total received water of around 145-million-acre feet (MAF). The Diamer Bhasha dam would provide an additional storage capacity of 8.10 MAF and thus increase the overall storage capacity from 30 to 48 days. The dam will help store the excess water and will avert the risks of flood in the country that have historically inflicted a huge loss to the country’s economy and infrastructure.
- Food Security
Water security is critical for an agrarian country like Pakistan to ensure food security. Diamer Bhasha Dam will provide an additional storage capacity of 6.4 MAF, which will be beneficial for both the agriculture sector and industrial sector. An increase in water storage will provide enough water to irrigate agricultural lands during droughts-like conditions in the country. So, this structure will, in turn, contribute to nation’s food security.
Controversy over the Diamer-Bhasha Dam
- Disputed Location
The presence of Diamer Bhasha dam in Gilgit Baltistan makes it a part of the disputed territory as India claims Gilgit Baltistan part of its Jammu and Kashmir region. India has therefore raised its concerns with Pakistan, China, and the US. It has also urged financial institutions to avoid funding the project based on its location in a disputed territory.
- Seismic and Ecological Balance
The dam is located on a seismic zone and within the 40 km radius of volcanic activity. As a result, the fear of a dam bursting is widespread, which would be a catastrophe for many other barrages and other dams on the river Indus and would ruin complete civilizations along the Indus River. This fear has already been mentioned by the original designer of the dam, General Butt, in 2004 to then President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharaf stating,
“I shudder at the thought of earthquake effects on Bhasha. Dam-burst would wipe out Tarbela and all barrages on Indus, which would take us back to the stone age.”
- Lack of International Financial Support
The seismicity of the project and bilateral territorial dispute deter the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other international financial donor agencies from financially supporting the project. So, the absence of international financial support creates a big challenge for the dam’s successful and timely completion.
- Local Resistance and Displacement
The Dam is expected to displace 30,000 people from 32 villages and will submerge around 104 km of the Karakoram highway. This displacement has been a root cause of local resistance to the project despite its positive effects as they directly suffer their land losses.
- Loss of farmland
The construction of this mega structure will result in the shrinking of the mighty Indus, arousing fear among communities. Muhammad Ali Shah who is the chairperson of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum said,
“The sea has already intruded 3.5 million acres of agriculture in Badin, Thatta, and Sajwal districts and affected the lives of more than 2 million people. With the construction of the Bhasha dam, we fear losing the three districts altogether to the sea. But a lobby wants more dams to be built.”
So, the construction of dam will eat up a greater chunk of agricultural land, which is a threat to domestic farmers in the region.
- Dispute over the total cost of the project
There is an ongoing dispute over the total cost of the project. Before the contract was awarded, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) claimed that the total cost is $14 billion. However, when the contract was awarded, the cost was $12 billion. So, this 37% decrease in the total cost is not possible and is often debated.
Conclusion
Diamer Bhasha Dam is an important infrastructure project located in Gilgit Baltistan that aims to address the energy crisis of the country, along with ensuring food and water security. Though the project faces criticisms due to the disputed location, its presence on the seismic zone, the threat of ecological imbalance, lack of international financial support, and the displacement of millions of local residents of the area, the project is a crucial step taken by the state to address some of its longstanding woes and bring ease to its people lives.
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