By Shabbir Mir in The Express Tribune, May 24
GILGIT: A lawmaker in the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Assembly, Amina Ansari on Thursday voiced concern over water leakages at seven points of the Satpara Dam, saying substandard construction is putting the lives of people living downstream at risk.
The 560-feet long and 128-feet high dam is located on Satpara Lake, five kilometers from Skardu. Its construction started in 2003 and is almost complete. The dam is expected to generate 17.36 megawatts (MW) of electricity. According to some estimates, it will supply power to approximately 30,000 households in Skardu valley.
“Instead of initiating legal proceedings against those involved in substandard construction, the government is trying to stop the leakages,” said Amina Ansari, a Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) legislator from Skardu town. She remained skeptical if the repair work will avoid a potential “disaster”.
In the absence of G-B Assembly Speaker Wazir Baig, Deputy Speaker Jamil Ahmad conducted the session which was not attended by Chief Minister Mehdi Shah either. Shah is reportedly in Islamabad due to the Chinese premier’s visit to Pakistan.
G-B Minister for Law and Information Ali Madad Sher said he was not up-to-date with the issue and that CM Shah would address any concerns.
Temperatures rose during the session as lawmaker after lawmaker raised substantive issues.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmaker from Ghizer valley, Ayub Shah complained nearly 250 government employees from his valley were fired. He demanded an explanation from the government over their dismissal.
PML-Q’s Mirza Hussain voiced reservations over lack of transparency regarding money spent as appropriated through the 2012-13 budget. “We want a word-by-word briefing,” he said. The environment grew more hostile when G-B finance minister asked opposition leader Janbaz Khan why he referred to ministers as “dacoits”. Nawaz Naji did not help matters by trying to define the word.
Legislators also spoke at length about the unwanted role of the bureaucracy in development projects and requested the speaker to limit its influence. http://tribune.com.pk/story/553439/substandard-construction-g-b-lawmaker-raises-concern-over-leakages-in-satpara-dam/
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