MANSEHRA: People of Saglu area in Upper Kohistan district on Tuesday refused to leave their houses acquired for the Dasu hydropower project complaining about the failure of Wapda to fulfil compensation commitments.

They first gathered in Dasu, the district headquarters of Lower Kohistan, and then went to the deputy commissioner’s offices for protest.

Former MPA Abdul Sattar Khan, who led protesters, said the district administration had served notices on the families hit by the Dasu dam to abandon their houses within a week for the start of work on Dasu power project but it was unacceptable to them as the alternative land provided to them by the Wapda didn’t have basic facilities.

He insisted that the Wapda and district administration had violated their respective agreements signed with the project-affected families about compensation and jobs.

“The families, which have got evacuation notices, are still without the Chula (stove) Package, which entitles them to financial assistance before departure,” he said.

The former MPA said the district administration had allotted alternative land to the families to build houses but its use for the purpose wasn’t possible due to the unavailability of drinking water and other facilities.

Another resident Mukhtar Khan also complained that the families, which gave away houses for the project, had yet to get employment in the Dasu hydropower project as agreed by the Wapda and district administration.

He said the Wapda should build roads and streets and ensure the provision of water and other facilities to the area, where those plots were allotted.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2022