ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday announced to start work on the proposed Diamer-Bhasha Dam in July-August this year, as it has formed a ministerial committee to settle the victims’ compensation issue by March 1.
Briefing media persons after chairing a meeting here, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo said a sub-committee had been formed under Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah to prepare a compensation package in consultation with the representatives of the victims of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam.
The panel’s recommendations would be presented to the ministerial body that would take a final decision on it by March 1. The ministerial committee formed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and headed by Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, consists of GB Chief Minister Mehdi Shah, Labour and Manpower Minister Syed Khurshid Shah, Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Pir Aftab Shah Jilani, Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and the chairman Wapda and the chief secretary GB.
A population of 28,650 would be affected by the dam, for which 0.3 million Kanal land would be used and as many as 31 villages and 5,500 families would be dislocated, Wattoo said in response to a question.
“The government is keen to start work on the dam and all the bottlenecks will be removed well in time, including compensation to the victims,” he said. Kaira said the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project was of national importance and the government would not hurt the fundamental rights of the people. “All genuine demands of the victims will be met,” the minister said. http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=27478
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