|
|
|
| April 15, 2003 | Tuesday | Safar 12, 1424 |
Disputes over dam extension resolved
ISLAMABAD, April 14: The federal and Azad Kashmir governments and the Water and Power Development Authority on Monday resolved all disputes over the Rs59 billion project of raising of the Mangla Dam and agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding this month.
The understanding was reached at a meeting attended by AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan, Water and Power and Kashmir Affairs Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Wapda Chairman Zulfiqar Ali Khan and officials of the finance ministry and the law and justice division.
The Wapda chairman told newsmen after the meeting that an MoU would be signed that would enable the authority to start work on the project.
Replying to a question, the chairman said the issues had been resolved on the basis of an on-site settlement plan agreed during a meeting presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Sept 26.
Asked about complaints by the AJK prime minister that minutes of that meeting had not been truly recorded, he said there was no deviation from the minutes and Azad Kashmir had given concurrence to go ahead.
Under the agreement, refugees from the occupied Kashmir, who were settled on Wapda land, and local residents, that would be affected by the raising of the dam, shall get Rs300,000 per facility and five Marlas for new houses.
A committee comprising representatives of AJK, the ministries of Kashmir affairs and water and power and Wapda is being constituted to determine the future power tariff for AJK consumers.
It was decided that existing tariff rates being charged from the AJK consumers at Rs2.32 per unit would remain valid till September.
The AJK premier told the meeting that Azad Kashmir had the potential to generate 5,000MW of hydel power.
He said more than 70 per cent people of AJK had access to electricity and the raising of the dam would benefit 350,000 families.
The raising would help generate 180MW more energy.
APP adds: Mr Sherpao said at the meeting that the AJK government would get hydel profit of 15 paisa per unit of power.
He said the raising of the dam was important for the development of Pakistan and AJK.
|
|
|
|
