Mangla Dam Raising Project: Wattoo praises AJK govt, Wapda for progress

Minister calls for granting proprietary right of land to displaced people.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has appreciated the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government and the Wapda chairman for rapid progress on the Mangla Dam Raising Project.

Chairing a meeting on Tuesday, he said that compensation had been paid to the people who were displaced because of the project, adding that the entire process took place in a satisfactory manner due to effective coordination.

Wattoo said that the proprietary right of land should be granted to displaced people.

Factors hindering the implementation of the compensation package and other resettlement issues were also discussed during the meeting.

The minister said that with a new government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he hoped that coordination would be better.

The minister also appreciated the settlement of 480 families and 90 families in New Mirpur city and Old Mirpur city, respectively. He said that Rs150-Rs200 million, which was due to be paid to the allotees, should be released at the earliest.

Wattoo said that the Mangla Dam Raising Project would benefit the people of Pakistan and the AJK. “It is a project of national significance which will enhance our capacity for water storage and electricity generation,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th,  2011.