Mangla Dam Raising Project: Funds released for rehabilitation of affected

Hundreds of thousands of UK-based overseas Kashmiris playing a pivotal role in the economic progress of AJK.

MIRPUR:

The government of Pakistan has released funds required for the rehabilitation of people affected by the Mangla Dam Raising Project.

This was stated by Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed stated during this day-long visit to Mirpur on Saturday. He reiterated that timely rehabilitation and resettlement of the people affected by the project are the government’s priority. “Every line of the written agreement in connection with rehabilitation of the people affected by the [Mangla Dam Raising Project] will be implemented in letter and spirit,” Majeed added.

He also maintained that hundreds of thousands of UK-based overseas Kashmiris belonging to Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimbher districts are playing a pivotal role in the economic progress of AJK for the last six decades. He urged the Kashmiri expatriates to invest in the business and industrial sectors of AJK.

Hundreds of people affected by the project had earlier staged protests after the government failed to give a schedule for completion of their rehabilitation. In response, the AJK Prime Minister had assured that there will be no comprise on the “due and legitimate rights” of the people affected by the project.

They met with PM Majeed and apprised him of the slow-paced construction work on part of Wapda in New Mirpur city and the four other towns in Mirpur district where the affected people are being resettled. They had called for early completion of the new residences before the dam’s water level was raised to its maximum limit of 1,242 feet.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2012.