Court stays water supply scheme

Abbottabad residents cite water shortage fears, environmental risks

ABBOTTABAD:

A local court in Abbottabad has issued a stay order on the Janderbari Water Supply Scheme following a petition filed by over a hundred residents from various village councils, including Janderbari, Phulkot, Dhakki Khaitar, and Aziz Bang.

The petitioners, represented by social activist Shezad Gul Awan, have raised concerns over potential water shortages and environmental implications stemming from the project.

Renowned lawyer and Secretary General of the District Bar Association, Asad Khan Jadoon, while presenting arguments before Civil Judge-V Altaf Khan, contended that the scheme, which aims to divert local water resources to Abbottabad city, threatens residents' access to the Nadi Dor water source - vital for drinking, agriculture, and other essential needs.

They fear this diversion could lead to a severe water crisis in their communities. Concerns have also been raised about the impact on local tourism, particularly as Nadi Harno serves as a major picnic spot for both local and national tourists.

The Janderbari Water Supply Scheme, costing Rs18 billion, is part of the KPCIP projects and is claimed to meet Abbottabad's water demand for the next 50 years.

Despite significant infrastructure development, including the installation of 24-inch diameter pipelines across the city, experts say the pipelines have not been connected to the main Janderbari source. Concerns over the viability of the project persist, as reports indicate the source may provide only 60 to 80 litres per second (LPS), while the scheme aims to deliver around 200 LPS.

Community leaders claim that around 60,000 residents could be negatively impacted by the project, alleging that its proponents are pressuring locals to withdraw their objections. This has led to unrest in the community, with demands for the immediate halt of the project, which they say threatens their rights and livelihoods.

Independent assessments linked to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have raised further concerns, suggesting that only 38 to 45 per cent of the required water is currently available at the source for the proposed scheme. Local residents have also expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of adequate consultation from the outset, saying that meaningful community input could have highlighted critical insights about seasonal water flow variations.

Technical experts have criticised several engineering decisions, including the selection of a two-foot diameter pipeline despite reported water supply constraints, and the proposed transmission route, which could lead to further inefficiencies.

In response to these concerns, advocates have called for a comprehensive technical reassessment of the scheme to ensure responsible resource management and sustainable benefits for local populations. They emphasised the community's fundamental right to access the Nadi Dor water channel - an essential resource that has historically supported local livelihoods - and argued that the government must safeguard it for present and future generations.