Concern voiced against hydropower projects in AJK

By  Tariq Naqash in Dawn, July 16

MUZAFFARABAD, July 15: The federal government and its Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) should sincerely and seriously address the concerns of the Kashmiris in the wake of construction of two mega hydropower projects in the area, before launching any further undertaking.

This was demanded by the participants of a seminar held here under the aegis of a local NGO, Muzaffarabad City Development Foundation (MCDF).

The seminar, which was addressed by the representatives of different political parties and organisations of traders and lawyers, focused on the environmental and other losses, they alleged would be caused by the Neelum-Jhelum and Patrind hydropower projects being constructed on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad in public and private sectors, respectively.

“Before the federal government and Wapda take any step for initiation of the proposed Kohala Hydropower Project, they should first fully compensate the losses to the environment and ecology of the areas concerned at the hands of the ongoing projects,” emphasised a declaration issued on the occasion.

Earlier, the speakers pointed out that due to excavation of tunnels, the affected areas were witnessing worst water crisis as most of the natural sources of potable water therein had gone bone-dry.

Reduced flow of water in Neelum River, they said, would also cast adverse impact on the weather of Muzaffarabad but there were no signs that the area, being subjected to ruthless power outages, would be given any relaxation in this regard afterward.Apart from that, they alleged, local residents were not being given any priority in pre and post construction employment, in sheer disregard to their sacrifices.

The speakers resolved to take the AJK president, prime minister and legislative assembly members, particularly those belonging to Muzaffarabad division, on board vis-à-vis their struggle for mitigation of environmental losses.

They also called upon international environmental watchdogs to play their role in ensuring the legitimate rights of the affected populace of Muzaffarabad. Prominent among the speakers were MCDF Chairman Zahid Amin, former AJK minister and ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) vice president Khawaja Farooq Ahmed, PML-N leader Dr Mustafa Bashir Abbasi, PTI AJK chapter leader Dr Lutfur Rehman, Raja Zahid Akram Khan, trade leaders Abdul Razzaq Khan, Khawaja Abdul Samad and AJK Pensioners Association President Raja Mumtaz Khan.http://dawn.com/2012/07/16/concern-voiced-against-hydropower-projects-in-ajk/