MUZAFFARABAD: The AJK government on Monday called for revisiting the construction design of Kohala hydropower project to avoid recurrence of environmental hazards being faced by people in the wake of the commissioning of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP).

A statement in this regard came separately from Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider after an official meeting in Islamabad, and Minister for Education Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani at a press conference here.

Muzaffarabad city has been bearing the brunt of environmental degradation following the diversion of Neelum River from Nauseri through a tunnel system.

The diversion has reduced the once mighty river to a small rivulet in the downstream areas, including Muzaffarabad, subsequently triggering anger and unrest as well as a campaign by the civil society to “Save the river”.

Demand comes after Muzaffarbad residents started facing environmental issues following diversion of Neelum River in another project

Since the proposed Kohala project also envisages diversion of Jhelum River, fears have mounted that it would kick off similar environmental problems in Hattian Bala and Muzaffarabad districts during execution and commissioning.

“We would like the feasibility and construction pattern of Kohala project revisited so that we don’t face similar environmental problems. At a time when technology has advanced greatly, why not produce electricity from the run of river instead of diversions,” he said.

Flanked by the heads of both civic bodies of Muzaffarabad, Mr Gillani criticised Wapda for its “untruthful” feasibility reports and “tall claims” on NJHP.

“In fact Wapda had claimed that release of nine cumec water from Nauseri was in accordance with the international standards and that another 20 cumec water from the downstream tributaries will be added to it,” he said.

“At the moment, 20cumec water is being released in Neelum River from Nauseri while another 10 cumec is being added to it by the downstream tributaries. But still, its insufficient [amount of water],” he said.

“Just imagine what this river would have been like if there was nine cumec discharge at Nauseri?”

According to him, construction of water bodies (along the course of Neelum River) was not a satisfactory solution. Rather, it could increase pollution throughout the course of (the reduced) river.

“People are paying this price for the sake of electricity generation but while they can live without electricity there is no concept, whatsoever, of living without water,” he said.

He hinted that since the PML-N had come to power in AJK in 2016, it could not be blamed for the lapses on the part of the government in Muzaffarabad vis-à-vis NJHP.

“But yes if any negligence occurs with regard to Kohala project, we are to be responsible and accountable for it,” he said.

Hardly two hours before the minister’s presser, a group of 28 civil society activists filed a writ petition in the AJK High Court through advocates Raja Amjad Ali Khan and Haroon Riaz Mughal, seeking multiple directions to the respondents, Wapda in particular, to address the concerns of the people of Muzaffarabad on Neelum-Jhelum and Kohala projects.

The petitioners maintained that since “Wapda had violated the conditions of the no objection certification (NOC) issued by the AJK Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the same should be declared redundant and status quo ante be ordered to be restored on NJHP till the signing of an agreement between the AJK government and Wapda.”

Notices were issued to the respondents for filing the objections and a larger bench was constituted by Chief Justice M. Tabassum Aftab Alvi to take up the petition.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2018