SHANGLA: Notables from various parts of Bisham tehsil unanimously passed a resolution in a jirga on Thursday against the transmission lines of the Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha hydropower projects passing through their lands.
They insisted that the proposed planning and survey would severely impact their properties and threaten their lives.
The jirga was held at Jinnah Park in Bisham where residents voiced concerns over the installation of transmission towers for the two power projects and complained about a lack of consultation and compensation.
The participants included MPA Mohammad Rashad Khan, tehsil council chairman Sadeedur Rehman, former PK-28 election candidate Abbas Khan, politicians, and notables from Butyal, Shang, Maira, Batkot and Dandai. They complained about the government’s plan to put up high-voltage transmission lines through their villages.
Decides to take up issue with admin
According to a survey report available on the World Bank’s website, electricity from both multibillion-rupee projects will be supplied to the national grid in Islamabad through high-voltage transmission lines.
The transmission lines will pass through Upper and Lower Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Attock and Fateh Jang in Punjab.
The report also noted that a 765kv, double-circuit transmission line, spanning 157km, would link the Dasu hydropower station to the Mansehra substation before extending to the Islamabad west grid station.
The participants criticised previous surveys, claiming they’re carried out in the region without local representation. Abbas Khan insisted that the land belonged to the people but no one bothered to consult them before laying transmission lines.
Fazal Mabood said the commitments made to the people were never fulfilled. He warned residents won’t back down, even if they’d to fight for their rights.
An elder from Kerai village said people from Kohistan successfully secured a favourable agreement, so Bisham residents should demand similar terms to safeguard their rights.
Tehsil council chairman Haji Sadid Rehman accused Wapda officials of issuing inflated electricity bills without conducting meter readings and said people won’t pay them. He also cautioned against accepting financial compensation in exchange for silence on the transmission lines issue.
Politician Amad Ahmad Khan urged the MPA and tehsil council chairman to actively intervene. He said the government’s representatives had a responsibility to ensure the voices of the affected people reached assemblies.MPA Mohammad Rashad Khan assured the jirga members that relocating transmission towers was not an impossible task.
He highlighted various development projects linked to the initiative, including water supply, road infrastructure and dispensaries, which could benefit the community.
The lawmaker, however, said if towers were installed by force, residents would offer resistance.
The jirga decided that its representatives would take up their grievances with the district administration and if they’re not addressed, the residents would act to protect their lands and rights.
Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2025
