BHC directs govt to include dams on Ecnec agenda

BHC Chief Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel directs release of funds to relevant departments

QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court (BHC) has directed the government to include Babar Katch Dam, Nolang Dam, Burj Aziz Dam, Badanzai Dam and Saklij Dam in the agenda of the next Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting scheduled to be held on March 16.

Hearing a petition filed by Pir Bakhsh, a division bench comprising BHC Chief Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel and Justice Nazeer Langove ordered the planning commission deputy chairman to submit a report regarding these dams.

The chief justice further ordered the additional chief secretary planning and development and the finance secretary to release funds allocated under federal development schemes to the departments concerned.

The project director of Nolang dam submitted a report saying that PC-1 of the project had been approved by the Communication and Works department, while the federal government had agreed to induct the Command Area Development in this project.

The provincial coordinator of the water sector informed the court that Balochistan’s water schemes had not been included in the agenda of the next Ecnec meeting.

The court adjourned the hearing till March 19. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2020.