Dam affectees asked to vacate area

The district administration has issued final red notices to all residents living on the 7,250 kanals acquired for the Dadocha Dam project, directing them to demolish their homes, sheds and cattle pens themselves and vacate the entire area by December 31.

Authorities warned that any property not vacated by the deadline will be bulldozed on January 1.

Following the issuance of final notices, residents have begun demolishing their homes and cattle sheds on their own, while the dispute over land compensation has intensified.

All 270 affected families have announced they will file references in court, arguing that the official rate of Rs239,000 per kanal is "peanuts" for such valuable land.

Three villages, including Khanpur, Bharwala and Mohra Faizullah, will be completely erased as their entire land falls within the dam site.

In Dadocha village, Razi Sohal, and four adjoining settlements, only agricultural land and forest areas fall inside the project.

Located 25 km from Rawalpindi, the dam is planned in Dadocha village of Kallar Syedan. Its estimated cost in 2022 was Rs6.027 million with a completion target of December 31, 2025.

Due to rising construction material costs, the estimate has now surged to Rs14 billion, and completion has been extended to December 31, 2027.

The dam will supply 35 million gallons of water per day to Rawalpindi and has a storage capacity of 60,000 acre feet. FWO is executing the project.

Ajmal Jamshed, a landowner affected by the project, said the administration and paramilitary forces have forcibly begun getting houses demolished. Some households have received partial compensation, while 90 per cent have not received "a single penny" and are being told compensation will be paid only after vacating the land.

Those who were paid received Rs16,000-17,000 per marla, which residents reject.

Affected families say they have decided to file references before the referee judge in the civil court for market-rate compensation.