Environmental concerns: Govt refutes villagers’ claims in dam construction case

Thar locals say dam will destroy means of livelihood

HYDERABAD: The district administration of Thar has denied allegations that the construction of a dam in Tharparkar will dent the livelihood of locals and damage the ecosystem.

Several villagers had challenged the dam's construction by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company through a petition filed in the Sindh High Court's Hyderabad Circuit Bench last week.

On Monday, the deputy commissioner of Tharparkar, assistant commissioner of Islamkot taluka and police submitted their replies before the bench. SECMC ‘s counsel   sought time for submitting their reply.  However, he submitted the Sindh Environment Protection Agency's (Sepa) letter of approval to refute the petitioners' charges that the project is being implemented without an environmental impact assessment.

Eleven residents of various villages of Islamkot taluka have claimed that the dam will adversely affect 15,000 locals and 20,000 livestock.

They have prayed the court to declare the dam's construction illegal. In his report, the district commissioner, while denying all contentions of the villagers, said the locals will be duly compensated under the law. The bench, comprising Justices Zafar Ahmad Rajput and Muhammad Saleem Jessar, fixed the next hearing on July 13.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2016.