S. A Haidri
Muzaffarabad: Neelum Jehlum Hydro Power Project (NJHP) after its completion will bounce adverse effects if the eco-friendly measures are not taken, life without water besides sanitation issues would project an atmosphere where breathing would be impossible. These assertions were made by President Pakistan People’s Party Azad Kashmir chapter Chaudhry Latif Akbar while addressing a press conference here on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that after the completion of the NJHP, capital Muzaffarabad including adjacent areas will be booked to undesirable influences of this project. He asked that if the people of Kashmir cannot be facilitated, then what the benefit of such projects is.
He said, “it is being said that Muzaffarabad has gone astray from (Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur-MMM) Express Way road projects under CPEC and it is presumed that the express way project will be made across the river and its link will be connected to Azad Kashmir; when the road will be on the other side the economic activity will transfer on the other hand, which will not give any advantage our State.”
PPP President reiterated that the people of Azad Kashmir are in favor of CPEC but it should be kept according to the old set-up route.
He said that we have been in relentless contact with the Federal Government and WAPDA to attain solution of environment issues aroused due to this Project when we were part of incumbent government.
WAPDA allocated funds concerning the procurement of environment, we demand that WAPDA should also construct all other projects to curb environmental issues including small dams as they have the competency to complete their projects of billions of rupees in AJK.
Former minister Syed Bazal Ali Naqvi, Chaudhry Rasheed, Mohammad Hanif Awan, Shaukat Javaid Mir, Tariq Saeed, Majaz Shah, Asad Habib Awan, Mubarak Haider, Parvez Mughal, Shagufta Noreen Kazmi, Adnan Awan and others were also present on the occasion.
Latif Akbar demanded that after completion of NJHP project, local engineers should be preferred besides non-gazette posts, PPP Azad Kashmir announced the call of APC in the first week of December to talk about the environmental issues aroused after completion of NJHP Project.
