November 30, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 8, 1427

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PESHAWAR, Nov 29: Chief Minister NWFP Akram Khan Durrani has categorically stated that Kalabagh dam will be harmful for the interest of Frontier Province and its people. He directed the authorities concerned to prepare a detailed report about the repercussions of the project on the Province so that the case could be advocated logically.

The chief minister was presiding over a high-level meeting at Frontier House on water resources in NWFP. Provincial ministers Hafiz Akhtar Ali, Maulana Asmatullah and others also attended the meeting.

The meeting discussed in detail the apprehensions, reservations of the province about Kalabagh dam, its fall-out on all aspects of life of the people of the province.

The meeting was also briefed about Bhasha dam, and Akhori dam and other water projects.

Mr Durrani said that in the absence of proper water channel system, the water share of NWFP was also being used by other provinces He said that it was unfortunate that no compensation was being considered for this loss.

Regarding construction of Kalabagh dam, Mr Durrani said that MMA could not support it as it would harm for cultivable land. He said the Mardan SCARP and other important projects were likely to be rendered useless.

The negative impact of this project, he maintained, would also befall on Peshawar valley. He apprehended that the proposed dam would also cause enormous devastation by floods in summer seasons.

Mr Durrani said that the share of the NWFP in Ghazi Barotha project should be determined as the president had directed preparation of a report in this respect.—PPI