It is always an implicit struggle or friction between the power circles in our country? Most importantly, there seems to be a confusion regarding roles and responsibilities among the government, bureaucracy, judiciary and professional. Unfortunately, different political leaders in various parties hold separate views. Irrespective of the differing views, the chief executive of the country is responsible for safety, security, and wellbeing of the citizens of the country. Napoléon, during his dictatorship years said that without any greenery human life is not possible, but greenery cannot spring without water. We as nation and our top leadership has not been able to get this simple rule yet. The government is obligated to preserve water through building dams, independent of the size. The two major dams built in 60’s are losing their capacity due to silting. Other water bodies such as the century old ‘Guddu’ barrage is also deteriorating fast partly due to aging and partly due to lack of timely maintenance and upkeep. We however are living in fool’s paradise busy in petty disagreements over building new dams. The government must persuade the leaders who oppose construction of damns to give consent in the national interest to build dams at sites which are declared suitable by engineers and experts. To ensure that these projects are not opposed, the proposed names may also be changed if needed. Our political leaders must shun petty politics of divide and rule at the provincial level where they use such thorny issues to instigate people just to strengthen their power. It is about time we realize the gravity of the problem, shun ethnic biases and unite to create unity to build much needed dams. It is now or never as if we don’t build dams, India will, and we will be fighting a bigger water crisis problem than Corona.
Raja Shafaatullah
Islamabad
