Pakistan

"Hunza lake will not burst" claims General Niaz

Express May 13, 2010

GILGIT: The Army Engineer in Chief claimed to have averted major crisis through spillways at Atta Abad Lake on Thursday. He said the lake bank will not burst.

Speaking at a joint press conference with DG ISPR Athar Abbas, General Niaz said the crisis has been averted by the building of spillways.

He said the creation of a spillway has reduced the hazard by 50%. Once it is opened, General Nazir believes it will drain the artificial lake within 3 to 4 days.

General Niaz added that low lying areas may suffer damage, once water outflow from the lake begins.

Earlier all government offices and education institutions were closed in Hunza Nagar as the water level lake threatened to burst the banks.

The water level in Hunza lake reached an alarming level of 327 feet. Meanwhile, Karakoram Highway was submerged disconnecting the link between Sosat and Tehsil Headquarter Gilmit.

As part of safety measures, more than 4,000 people were airlifted to safer places.

Sources said that IDPs will be accomodated in schools and teachers will be put on standby to assist the rescue teams.

Thirty six villages were in danger of being flooded if the water were to overflow.

COMMENTS (11)

Saulat Hussain Sumairy | 14 years ago | Reply Due to land slide in Atta abad all people of gilgit have been effectet. when the artificial lake which has covered 24km lon and average width is 1km can intensly effect adjoining areas of nagar and Hunza spacially Sumair vally an ganish vally. govern must took serious step to protect people and downstream areas befor fleshflood.

JAN ALAM | 14 years ago | Reply LAKE VILL DEMAGE NAGAR BECAUSE NAGAR IS BIGEST THAN HUNZA

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User | 14 years ago | Reply @ Hafiz shah Ali Link is not working ... can u please tell me where else i can get this report.

faris khan | 14 years ago | Reply the corrupt inefficient civilian set ups need the army in every difficult situation as they themselves don't have any capacity to deliver; from floods to holding elections or census its the army delivering at every front; next they will need the army to administer polio drops (or maybe they r doing that as well). Even after all that they crib about the army being "powerful" its not being powerful its about being the only institution working in the country. Long live Pakistan Army.

Iqbal Ahmad Janjua | 14 years ago | Reply There is so much water here and the most part is allowed to drain in Arabian Sea. If we can store and control all, our most problems are solved. This alke is a natural calamity and will be solved. We can destory the dams but can we construct also?

Iqbal Ahmad Janjua | 14 years ago | Reply Yet there is time for our nation to escape from suicide and build as much dams as can be to store this pricious bounty which is now in abundant here i.e. water.

DR.Muhammad Khan | 14 years ago | Reply HUNZA LAKE WILL NOT BURST.IT MAY OVERFLOW CAUSING LITTLE DAMAGE TO LOW LYING AREAS UPTO GILGIT.SIMILAR LAKE WAS FORMED IN KHALTI GUPIS 31 YEARS AGO AND DID NOT BURST,RATHER OVERFLOW WAS NOT DAMAGING.THAT LAKE IS STILL THERE.HOWEVER PEOPLE OF HUNZA AND GOJAL MAY FACE MANY PROBLEMS TILL DUST IS SETTLED DOWN.PEOPLE OF KHALTI GUPIS DID NOT RECEIVE ANY AID AT THAT TIME.IF THERE WAS ANY AID ,IT IS NOT KNOWN TO PEOPLE OF KHALTI GUPIS. I HOPE PEOPLE OF HUNZA AND GOJAL WILL GET RESPECT AND HONOURABLE AID FROM DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN.

Arshad Alvi | 14 years ago | Reply We are suffering water crisis due to construction of dams by India. Why can't we take this blockade and formation of a lake with more than 300 feet depth of water, (enough to generate a lot of electricity and water reservoir to be used in draught conditions) as a lesson from ALmighty Allah and plan construction of a number of dams on such locations and affecting least of the population....... I would suggest the authorities to give it a serious thought and implement the studies I believe, which have already been carried out by major consultancy firms of Pakistan, on cascade of dams on Indus River. One of them I know is "ACE" (Associated Consulting Engineers". More so, I have come to know that Hunza River contributes almost 25 to 30% of water to Indus River. This blockade has just provided some problems downstream but has created a reservoir about 20 Kilometers in length but has not dried up the Indus River in its lower reaches. People should understand that construction of Kala Bagh Dam would also not dry up the Indus River, rather it will give us a control to go for ponding and thereafter release the water when required, besides giving us a lots of Mega Watts of Elecricity.

Waqar Raja | 14 years ago | Reply During earthquake in 2005,an artificial lake came up near Hattian in Chakaar Valley, AJK. Same kind of concerns came up by the people of the area as we notice in case of Hunza Lake. However, an immediate creation of spillway by Army Engineers averted another disaster.If I correctly recollect, it was same General Shahid who is now working on Hunza Lake. So well done General and Army Engineers. Today beautiful Hattian Lake can be developed into an attractive tourist spot. However, AJK Government has never shown any interest in its development.In case of Hunza Lake, I believe we can convert this tragedy into an opportunity, but prior to that, people of the area must be compensated and taken on board for any future plan. May I also request General Shahid to not to limit his work to construction of spillway only. You must develop a futuristic comprehensive plan for this lake in line with the commitment made by President, PM and General Kayani to the people of the area.

Mekayl Mashhadi Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Hunza is an exquisite place. Attention needs to be paid to it instead of predicting how much damage will or will not take place.

sehar khan | 14 years ago | Reply ***emphasized text*** I can only pray for population of that velley...

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