Neelum-Jhelum project: Locals protest for ‘due’ rights
Block traffic for hours, demand compensation, jobs
MUZAFFARABAD:
The affected persons of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (NJHEP) in Chattar Klass area on Tuesday blocked the Muzaffarabad-Rawalpindi Road for four hours near the main site of the power house to press for their demands.
Placing tractors in the middle of the road and setting fire to tyres, protesters chanted slogans against the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).
“For the last four years, we have been demanding our rights and compensation but both the federal government and Wapda authorities did not bother to listen,” said Action Committee Chairman Raja Parvez Majeed.
Majeed further said the action committee was formed with the consent of every political party of the area to fight for peoples’ rights.
“Our demand is that compensation should be provided to people whose land will be used for the construction of towers of the main high-tension line of NJHEP,” he said, suggesting that the towers ought to be installed off the populated areas. Wapda should also provide jobs to locals, Majeed added.
The road blockade affected traffic for more than three hours and long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the main land route. “For the last two hours I have been in my car waiting,” said businessman Raza Ahmad who had to reach Islamabad for a meeting.
The district administration finally wooed the protesters with the promise of solving their problems in three weeks.
Later, protesters agreed to open the road for traffic and dispersed peacefully.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2014.
The affected persons of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (NJHEP) in Chattar Klass area on Tuesday blocked the Muzaffarabad-Rawalpindi Road for four hours near the main site of the power house to press for their demands.
Placing tractors in the middle of the road and setting fire to tyres, protesters chanted slogans against the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).
“For the last four years, we have been demanding our rights and compensation but both the federal government and Wapda authorities did not bother to listen,” said Action Committee Chairman Raja Parvez Majeed.
Majeed further said the action committee was formed with the consent of every political party of the area to fight for peoples’ rights.
“Our demand is that compensation should be provided to people whose land will be used for the construction of towers of the main high-tension line of NJHEP,” he said, suggesting that the towers ought to be installed off the populated areas. Wapda should also provide jobs to locals, Majeed added.
The road blockade affected traffic for more than three hours and long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the main land route. “For the last two hours I have been in my car waiting,” said businessman Raza Ahmad who had to reach Islamabad for a meeting.
The district administration finally wooed the protesters with the promise of solving their problems in three weeks.
Later, protesters agreed to open the road for traffic and dispersed peacefully.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2014.