“Says Patreend Hydro Power project has been completed and NJHP is also in the final stages of completion but despite all that capital city and its suburbs face electricity shortage; no measures have been taken regarding the construction of small dams, people will have no option but to migrate to other cities and towns if water scarcity issue was not addressed in time”
S. A Haidri
Muzaffarabad: Central Bar Association Muzaffarabad warned WAPDA and other concerned authorities to complete their projects before start of NJHP project.
Addressing the press conference in Central Press Club Muzaffarabad, President CBA Raja Aftab said that the diversion of river Neelum for the Neelum Jhelum Hydro Power Project (NJHP) is now “do or die” kind of a condition for the people of Muzaffarabad. He said, “Kashmiri are sacrificing a lot for the development of Pakistan”.
He said,” Kashmiri sacrificed for the construction of Mangla Dam and its up raising, on the other hand several other mega projects are being started in the state but no work is being done for procurement of environmental impacts.”
Raja Aftab said that when the water was to be stopped on October 16, the public health department issued an alert that about urban water shortage, and requested to use water sparsely.
“Although, on the directions of Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, it has been postponed but it is also true that this water will also be turned anyway”, President CBA added.
He reiterated that the Patreend Hydro Power project has been completed in Muzaffarabad and NJHP is also in the final stages of completion.
However, even in the city, not only 60 MW of electricity is available, as long as the environment issue remains, there are no measures taken to cope this issue, he said that our future generations will be affected by its impact.
He said that the water supply line has been laid around the city but there will be no water for them, which is very despondent. “We were promised to make small dams,” he said, adding that no measures have been made.
He said that there will be no option left for citizens except to migrate from the city.
Joint secretary CBA Asad Qureshi, Zulqarnain Naqvi, Sardar Riaz, Syed Ali Raza advocate were also present in the press conference.
President CBA demanded all communities including businessmen, civil society and religious clerics to join with CBA in relation to this matter.
“I will also refer to the court including the environmental protection agencies, I request all my citizens to come and become a party in the judiciary so that these institutions get the message that all citizens are unified regarding the problem of environmental issues in the city.
CBA demanded the government from Azad Kashmir, to play their best role on this issue, we will stand with them, but this case is being ignored, then citizens will not bear this tyranny and injustice.
