Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project

Mian Mobeen Shaukat, student mechanical engineering, Ghulam Ishaque Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology

Ghazi Home

EFFECTS OF GHAZI BAROTHA DAM PROJECT

EFFECT ON PEOPLE :

Seen as a whole, the project is undoubtedly a blessing for the people of Pakistan, as it will be a major step towards the solution of the prevalent energy crises. However, for the section of people belonging to the viccinity of the affected areas, the project is not less than a catastrophe. Twenty years ago they sacrificed their land and livelihood for TARBELA DAM PROJECT. They are again fore-seeing that they will have to give up the remaining land for the sake of their countries prosperity. Well, it's not too bad a deal!

The survey carried out by a team, comprising of the students of GIK ( Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engg. & Technology ), revealed that most of the people were not satisfied by the compensations which have been made by the government. They make the following complaints :

  1. The power channel will act as a barrier for a farmer wishing to getting over the the other end of his peice of land, located on the other side of the channel. As a result, he will have to bear the additional burden of the bus-fare, evertime he goes from one part of his property to the other.
  2. Diversion of water from Ghazi to Barotha will deplete the indus from Ghazi to Qazipur. This will have a drastic affect in the marine life and also, the lives of hundreds of tribesmen will be effected.
  3. The attitude of the patwaris also poses a lot of trouble. They ask for hefty bribes, threaten them that if they fail to deliver the required sum they will declare their agricultural land as being barren and as a result the price of their land will drastically fall.
  4. Preference is being given to the outsiders rather than the locals, regarding the availability of jobs, both technical as well as non-technical ones, at the construction sites. The job permits, which have been issued to them, have only proved to be a formality and the construction company has adopted a rigid and biased attitude towards the locals.

Some of these problems presented to these locals are no doubt genuine and they need to be addressed immediately. Though, some of the NGO's are apparently striving to look after the greviances of the local people, yet, their has been no visible improvement in the situaiton.

EFFECT ON THE ENVIORNMENT :

The project is not expected to induce a major influence on the enviornment. Such effects on the enviornment are predicted on the basis of experience with a similar project in a comparable enviornment. Direct or primary effects can usually be fore-seen and from them the indirect effects can be concluded.

EFFECT OF THE BARRAGE :

The most significant effect will be on the aquatic enviornment and the conversion of a stretch of braided river bed into a fluctuating pool, with a maximum area of 1,000 hectares. The present land used for the river bed is a source of cobbles and fuel wood with some land used for grazing and for fishermans' camps. As a result of the construction of the Barrage, the price of land will increase as it shifts from agricultural to commercial development.

EFFECT OF THE POWER CHANNEL :

About 1000 hectares of land will be taken by the power channel and its right-of-way including an allowance for the contingencies. After rehabilitation it will become a much impoved area.

The major land aquisition near Barotha will be about 850 hectares. About 40 % of this land is arable, of which only 6 % is irrigated. The rest currently is woodland, pastureland and wasteland.

EFFECT ON THE RIVER INDUS :

The ground water inflow-outflow relationship along the river will be somewhat altered. The presence of pond upstream of Ghazi will increase recharge from the river locally, now limited to the periods of high flow. From Ghazi to Qazipur, the period of recharge will be somewhat shortened and the dry season outflow to the river will be somewhat increased. This will not affect the locals, as at the present, only a small percentage of the consumptive requirements of the 15 riverside villages is met from the river; the rest comes from the ground water.

The feasibility report says that the reduction of flow in the river is not expected to effect the local livestock as substantial pools woll still remain. This contradicts to what the local people claim that not only will there be no aquatic life left, but also water for drinking purposes will be adversly affected. The government sources, however, claim that 80 % of the villages have sufficient ground water beyond their domestic requirements and hence this reduction in flow will not effect the villages that badly.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT MITIGATED

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