MUZAFFARABAD, Feb 8: The AJK Environmental Protection Agency (AJKEPA) has asked the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to submit Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) to meet a mandatory provision of the AJK Environmental Projection Act 2000, it was learnt here on Saturday.

Located in district Muzaffarabad, the 969-megawatt NJHP envisages diversion of Neelum River water from Nauseri, 41 kilometres northeast of here along Neelum Valley Road, through a tunnel which would out-fall into Jhelum River at Chattar Klass, some 20 kilometres from here along Muzaffarabad-Kohala Road.

Wapda has awarded contract of mega project to Chinese companies which have started preliminary work by setting up their bases in Nauseri and Chattar Klass.

Local people have been expressing serious concern over the likely environmental effects of the mega project which would reduce Neelum River to the level of a small water channel.

EPA sources told Dawn that Wapda had not submitted EIA to the agency although it was mandatory for the formal commencement of any project in the region.

After taking over the reins of AJK Environmental Protection Agency, sources said, the incumbent director-general, Raja Mohammad Abbas, had however taken serious stock of the situation and served a notice on Wapda on January 21 to show cause as to why they had skipped this requirement.

Two senior Wapda officials - chief engineer and project director - appeared before the director-general on February 2 and maintained that they were not aware of the existence of any such law in Azad

Kashmir and added that none had sought any such report from them in the past, sources said.

The Wapda officials however claimed that their organisation had conducted a study (on the environmental impact of project) on its own and was satisfied with its findings.

However, sources said, the director-general directed them to ensure implementation of clauses mandatory for commencement of any mega project in Azad Kashmir.

According to section 11 of AJK EPA 2000, no proponent of a project shall commence construction or operation unless he has filed with the agency an initial environmental examination or where the project is likely to cause an adverse environmental effect, an Environmental Impact Assessment.

The Wapda officials, sources said, pledged to submit EIA on February 12 to obtain a ‘No-Objection Certificate’ from AJK Environmental Protection Agency, sources said.

The Environmental Impact Assessment would be submitted in 10 hard and one soft copy which would be sent to the experts on the AJK Environmental Protection Agency ’s panel for scrutiny, sources added.