Dams: Dangerous, inefficient, expensive | Video Op-Ed

In this video OpEd hydrologist and engineer Dr Hassan Abbas systematically dismantles the arguments for big dams, be it storage, power generation or flood control. He also gives alternatives for the same in the “hydrogeological miracle” that is the Indus River system.
#dam #flood #hydropower

[@Profitpk]

Dr Hassan Abbas’s video op-ed making the case against dams led to quite a spirited debate in the comments section across our various platforms. He responds to some of them in this video. Click on the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/onvPdoOuq5KXbcU

[@lubnashahid8433]

Watching Dr. Hassan Abbas's video on water management and the impact of dams was truly eye-opening. His deep insight and foresight on the subject is truly commendable. Pakistan would greatly benefit from his sincere efforts towards preserving our natural resources and balancing our technological advancements. Thank you for sharing this informative video!

[@asraalyssa5839]

It means we are just wasting heavy costs and time on dam construction. We don't have capable, efficient analysts who assist the government in a better way.

[@ainne472]

Such an eye opening information so thanks sir giving me right perseption thanks.

[@razabhai9870]

Very very interesting and informative

[@philippzehmisch5966]

Hassan Abbas is a genius. He should be the Minister for Environment and Climate Change instead of the usual hot steam engines that need constant AC

[@rabiashafi6500]

Thanks for informative analysis 👍...worth sharing with others

[@umairmansha4291]

I always wondered why is this channel so underrated and get less numner of views. this video is answer to my questions.

[@SolvingSkills]

Spot on

[@jalallangah7040]

Excellent talk. Today I learned why we have been misguided and misinformed about construction of big dams.

[@farooq.rasheed]

Very insightful video!

[@arsalanahmad1068]

Excellent analysis 💜

[@touseefghazanfar8487]

Thank you for such a informative video

[@fidakhan82]

Excellent analysis and information

[@syedasaadjafry7494]

Very well explained...

[@atharali1027]

Wow an eye opener

[@usmanfunk]

amazing

[@saeedahmed2008]

I believe Dr. Sb. is wrong in calculating per watt electricity cost of Neelum-Jhelum power project (see around 22:00) As per Wikipedia (which provides reliable references) the Neelam-Jhelum has maximum generation capacity of 969 MW. It will generate 5,150 GWh (gigawatt hour) per year at the levelised tariff of Rs 13.50 per unit (remember, 1 unit of electricity = 1 kWh not one watt) for 30 years. Lastly, the total project cost including financing cost is USD 5.1 billion not USD 10 billion. (Source: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neelum-Jhelum_Hydropower_Plant)

[@librafarms]

U are calculating cost per unit at dam's maximum capacity, however the average annual efficiency of a hydro power project remains below 70% of it's rated capacity. Secondly U are calculating on the basis of the initial cost of project, whereas bank charges and loan interest etc is also to be calculated while costing any project.

[@ghulammohammad4221]

Great genius 👏

[@jameelhussain4424]

Eye opener

[@shehryargondal3084]

Of all Dr. Hassan Abbas’s videos, this one was the best. Dr. saahb was very articulate and on-point

[@saqibjahangirmughal5130]

If the flood peak in the river is 700,000 cusecs then dams bring that flood peak to about 400,000 cusecs or even less depending upon the situation. In most cases, inflows are mostly sufficiently more than the outflows which means managing the floods by attenuating the flood peak. Alone Tarbela and Mangla are not enough to mitigate the floods of such quantities. Therefore, more dams are needed to reduce the load of floods on these existing dams. It is wrong that Tarbela only provides 2 MAF water to farmers. My question is where does remaining 4.5 MAF water goes ? Groundwater pumping needs more cost and its not sustainable solution. For your reference, please see the situation in Balochistan where water table has gone below 1,200 feet. All developed nations have achieved the current progress through cheap hydropower for their industrial development. See the example of China of 3 gorges dam and the second largest dam of the world being executed these days. Regarding Neelum Jhelum, Its cost is Rs. 550 billion ( today's $2.29 billion). its capacity is 969 MW not 450 MW. It produces minimum 5.15 Billion units annually. If you divide Rs. 550 billion with 5.15 billion units per year and take it for 10 years then cost of one unit comes out to be Rs. 10/ unit. It means within 10 years, the investment cost will be recovered even running the plant on minimum capacity throughout the year. After 10 years, Neelum Jhelum Project will effectively be FREE of cost and it will give you only revenue and revenue without any further investment. At the end, I would like to challenge this psedu intellectual of Indian lobby against Pakistan to have an open forum debate with me and I will satisfy you from each corner of your body. My contact Number is 0333-7811677 If you dare to accept the challenge then do contact me and i will cool you down from all aspects.

[@farooq.rasheed]

Indian lobby wali baat pehle kr dete to mujay pora comment na parhna parta

[@ch.alighafoor]

Brother no need to argue with people like this because his intellectuality is crystal clear from his opinion about solar. I would like to add here he should mention how much subsidies are being given to solar manufacturers and clients. I believe he is getting salary from a wrong entity.

[@usmanfarooq602]

I think the analysis is very much far from reality. Rever well fields will need electricity to run and I am sure no one will maintain these motors so the idea will flip badly. Also we will need a huge piping system. Why is China, US and India in a race to make the largest dams in the world? We need to make many small dams if not large ones. We have heard enough of all this lobby and wasting a lot of fresh water to the ocean on daily basis

[@ahsanharoon4220]

extremely informative

[@mirali9452]

He is giving the example of breaking of dam, that May be due to bad design and/or faulty construction, this cannot be reason for not building dams. We need to look at other countries, how they manage the water using dams, and have reliable supply of water all year round. Dams do help in managing the floods, if the flood size is over 100 years frequency, then water should flow through the spillways. This guy’s talk is very miss leading. He using corruption, incompetence and bad governance to argue against the benefits of development.

[@SolvingSkills]

💯

[@sillygoose4835]

❤️

[@hussainasif8]

There are several excellent points made in the video and the role of concrete mafia as well as other lobbies and institutions with vested interests can't be discounted. However the maths in the end used to derive the cost of lighting a bulb makes me wonder what this person and has been smoking. The annual net energy production by Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project is 4630 GWh (), assuming a 30 year life span which is very reasonable for a dam even in Pakistan, the total production will be 138,900 GWh. It makes more sense to divide 10 Billion dollars by this total production instead of installed capacity, if you add life time operations cost (which are relatively minimal for dams unless a major extension is carried out) and then make the sum the numerator for this calculation, this is called Levelised Cost of Electricity () and is the internationally recognized metric for comparing how costly each method of energy production is. I am happy to be wrong but based on global norms, the math near the end of the video saying a single watt costs 5000 and that lighting a 100 W bulb will cost 500,000 is just a Giga (pun intended) sized lie. What is perhaps more concerning is how a reputable media outlet like Profit magazine with its team of excellent quant analysts dropped the ball and didn't bother to run the numbers, not to mention how a seasoned engineer can be so absolutely shit at math and out of touch with global norms is even more haunting.

[@mythbusterUSA]

11:28 Hasan sb you are giving number of whole year. Terbela and Mangla provide water for winter. Now talk about irrigation water requirements of winter and water provided by Terbela and Mangal storage. This 5% figure will definitely increase to 30%-40%. I live in canal area. Farmers can't think about crop without timely release of water from Dams in winter.

[@muhammadumerazhar6633]

But dont you think if water is running free then farmers will not have to wait for the release of water from dams ?

[@mythbusterUSA]

@@muhammadumerazhar6633 بھائی سردیوں میں پانی کہاں سے آتا ہے؟

[@muhammadumerazhar6633]

@@mythbusterUSA although the flow of water is reduced in winter , but still outflows of dam is less than inflow that means even in winter it uses some of water to fill up its reservoir . So according to my understanding if there is no dam on the way then it will be used freely by farmers whenever its needed . Even if you are not satisfied Hasan sahab has given the alternative to use water of river aquifers at the times of less flow of water in rivers which is less costly as compared to dams and projects can be completed lot earlier than a one big dam.

[@postkeen]

He is not denying the winter benefit in Punjab. He is requesting to balance it with the cost of not supplying early water in spring to Sind. He may need some corrections, but I salute his honest integrated approach as a Pakistani - not just a Punjabi or Sind. Kudos to him! This nationalistic perspective is sorely missing in our country.

[@ch.alighafoor]

Dr sb why are you trying to be the next Indus water commissioner.

[@mikram359]

intehai mazrat se jnab is ka ye matlab ha k dam nae bnane chaye?? balke mazbot dam banae chaye

[@ch.alighafoor]

I don't know Dr sb and to be on safe side I would not put him in foreign lobbies who are against dams in Pakistan. Lets put all things aside and reply that do he considers solar as renewable if he is saying yes then hats off. Where pv plates shall be disposed off and from where will he get storage arrangement for solar 1. Power generation per cost by considering NJ as reference. Doesn't he know the obstruction for NJ from within the system. Cost escalation was only due to delay in construction. 2. If we held mangla and tarbella for flooding then the point is how many dams we've on our rivers specifically Indus River i.e. one of the longest rivers I the region. 3. Dams give you a chance to store water for future purposes and irrigation is one of the main products. I would request sir to please do not manipulate things and give a clear picture. Our case of dams is strong by the fact that why India struggled for years to stop diamer bhasha dam. Secondly Dr sb himself is a hydrologist he must have the flood records pre and post dams specifically in India, China, Norway, Brazil.....etc. Some factors are acceptable but his advocacy for solar is completely biased.

[@zindagee4u]

He only quoted neelum jehlum dam. Why?

[@mythbusterUSA]

20:13 Delta-Mendota Canal completed in 2012 in California.

[@mbs0710]

damm

[@Alert_News]

Apko kis ny engineer bna diya. Dam bna ky nehri nizam nikala ja sakta hy. Jis sy dor draz ki Banjer zameen ko serab kia ja sakta hy.

[@zukhiro]

The video has so many flaws its almost impossible to address them all. The only correct thing is that saying that Dams are not a solution to stop floods.

[@ibnbatootae2170]

Meanwhile the 1GW bahawalpur QeA solar plant only generates less than 50 MW. Apart from poor power factor of less than 20% Solar also has poor life only 20 to 25 years. Please don't buy the idea of Solar its waste of public resources. More nuclear power plants is the future its the cheapest and most efficient way to get power.

[@mythbusterUSA]

BTW if this 2MAF is so negligible, why Punjab and Sindh fight over it?

[@asraalyssa5839]

Solar is a cheap way to generate electricity but the government has increased its prices. Then how lower class can use the solar system.

[@syedzubairhaider7430]

its still cheaper than what they are doing now.

[@muhammadosama2388]

Installed 8kw system in 18lac last month. Not cheap also now nepra is trying to make amendment in laws to pay 20% less to exported units from net metering

[@Marcus_11144]

Dr. Sb didn't say a word about electricity generation by Hydel power houses.

[@zeshanaslam3992]

He talked about it in first 30 seconds dear...

[@shehryargondal3084]

He did talk about that. He even told u k hydel di bijli bari mehngi ban’di ae

[@Marcus_11144]

Oh , my mistake. I spoke too soon . Apologies.

[@Marcus_11144]

He talks about it at 22:00 onwards ...

[@muhammadosama2388]

Sir ne solar ki lagta hy company kholi hy 😂

[@abdulmateen2790]

اسلام علیکم ورحمتہ اللہ وبرکاتہ ۔۔ میرے معصوم پاکستانی بھائیوں ۔ پاکستان دشمن قوتیں اور انڈیا شروع سے ہی پاکستان میں پروپیگنڈا لابی کرواتی آرہی ہیں کہ پاکستان ڈیمز نہ بنا سکے ۔ جس سے پاکستان ترقی یافتہ ہو جاتا ۔ اس پروپیگنڈا لابی کے لیے انڈیا اور دشمن قوتیں اربوں ڈالر خرچ کرتی ہے جو ملک کے غداروں کو تقسیم کروا کر اپنا مقاصد پورے کرتی ہے ۔۔ ڈیمز کا نہ بننا دشمن کی خواہش اور مقصد ہے ۔۔۔ ڈیمز ملک کی معاشی خوشحالی کا سب سے بڑا ذریعہ ہیں ۔۔ اور یہ انڈین سے فنڈنگ لینے والے غداروں نے ہی اس بندہ کو لابی کرنے لیے لانچ کیا ہے ۔ ۔ ۔ اس سپیکر کی باتیں بالکل غلط اور حقیقت سے دور ہیں ۔ اور یہ واضح کہ رہا ہے کہ پاکستان میں ڈیمز اور نہریں اور فصلوں کے لیے کھالے بھی نہیں ہونے چاہیے ۔ جو بالکل ممکن نہیں ہے ۔ اور اس سے صاف ظاہر ہے یہ اپنے پروپیگنڈا لابی ایجنڈے کے مطابق ملک دشمنوں کی زبان بول رہا ہے۔۔۔

[@muhammadaamir399]

Disagree with his arguments against dams as an Engineer.

[@muhammadumerazhar6633]

Kindly elaborate plz

[@wajidshah8714]

Pakistan is compelled to construct the dams on diversion and blocking of its three rivers by India flowing to Pakistan in natural course. Eventually, these two Mangla and Tarbela dams were constructed to irrigate the affected area of the Indus basen. Pakistan is remained ignorent even today playing in the hands of the international establishment. Unfortunately the dams managed In a way that arose differences between provinces unlike in India and rest of the world. Almighty Allah bless our country from all evil hands. Aameen

[@asifmasood1959]

Utterly nonsense and one sided

[@SolvingSkills]

How horrible it is to mention and undermine the tragedy of APS and comparing it to natural incidents. Shameful.

[@SolvingSkills]

@@ss4904 APS was a tragedy with far greater gravity than any other in Pakistan. Millions of people lose their lives in accidents across the globe but brutal killing of hundreds of school children...!!!

[@Salmankhan-wb4xi]

Fiker na karray, political peple has fk the country

[@adnanabbasi1630]

This person seemingly belongs to the CULT sponsored by India against Dams in Pakistan. This short sighted person is looking a specific scenario within a limited scope. Let me tell you, first of all 7 world bank's proposed dams must immediately build to stop Indian Water Assault every heavy rain season. Secondly if we have more dams than we manage heavy rain water in the upper areas dams by keeping them at low levels for flood. Furthermore, if we have seven more dams on Indus river we can manage many things like water supply at right season, continuous electricity, more businesses like fish farming, more coverage of agricultural land in province not yielding at the moment. And many more. Less reliability on fossil fuel, less Import bill on fuel. Cheaper electricity, more clean energy compared to fossil and coal fuel which make our product acceptable in European and American market. This person is suspicious person promoting Indian vision as part of 5th generation warfare.

[@umarazizkhan3554]

He’s saying that Indians shouldn’t build dams. Even gave an example. But our Einstein here is calling him an Indian agent. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@adnanabbasi1630]

@@umarazizkhan3554 In real world we have to think about reality and measery faced by people. Now at current times, India has done whatever goes in the Indian favor. To coup with the reality we must have solid, viable, and more importantly practical plan. Do not live in dreams. Reality is the India has dozens of dams and India always release water in heavy rain season for last 4 decades. The solution might not ideal, but reality is that dams are now our necessity.

[@shehryargondal3084]

@@adnanabbasi1630 India does not care tusee dam banao ya dam fund de naa tay lokaan nu phuddu banao

[@Slayer123-g6v]

@@shehryargondal3084exactly 😃🤣😂🤣

[@adnanabbasi1630]

@@shehryargondal3084 Gond agar kano par na ho tau, kadi kadi khabrein aur international Court mein Pakistan ke khilaf India ke Kam deikh laina

[@ch.alighafoor]

Completely misguided video.