Dadhocha Dam cost to be reviewed

Commissioner orders start of work within next 36 days

RAWALPINDI:

Following the Supreme Court’s recent verdict, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chatha has asked authorities concerned to start work on the Dadhocha Dam within the next 36 days after revising its cost.

While presiding over a meeting held regarding the project, he said the judgment of the Supreme Court will be implemented in its full letter and spirit. He directed the revenue department to get land acquisition costs assessed according to the fresh rates. Meanwhile, the irrigation department will prepare the estimated cost of the work.

Liaqat Ali Chatha said that any further delay in this project would be extremely unfair to the people of Rawalpindi. He directed to hold a site visit next week in which the locals of the area will be specially invited to take them into confidence and convince them that they will be adequately paid for their land.

Additional commissioner coordination, director development, additional commissioner revenue, additional deputy commissioner revenue, SDO irrigation, and FWO representatives were present in the meeting.

Rawalpindi commissioner further said water shortage has become a global problem and countries around the world are considering various ways to meet this shortage. Due to this, the per capita availability of water here has decreased four times in the last 50 years. Along with this, the absence of dams results in the loss of millions of cusecs of rainwater every year. He said the government of Punjab is giving priority to the problem of water scarcity and is paying special attention to the construction of small dams and Dadhucha Dam is also a link in this chain.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2023.