ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) ordered on Wednesday the immediate construction of two dams.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar heard a case related to scarcity of water and ordered the construction of Bhasha and Mohmand dam.
In the court order, it was said that the water resources are pertinent not only for human lives but for the country’s stability.
Council of Common Interest had not expressed any reservation against Bhasha and Mehmand Dam, it added.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/consensus-developed-for-immediate-construction-of-two-new-dams-says-cjp-nisar/
“How much water are we wasting?” the CJP, during the hearing, remarked.
The ministry of power and water responded that water worth millions of dollars were being wasted, adding that in one year 90 million acre-feet of water is wasted.
He said that after Tarbella, a new dam should be built every ten years.
According to the ministry of power and water, one million acre-feet of water costs $500 million.
SC appealed to the general public, including Pakistanis residing abroad, to donate for the cause.
The top judge also donated an amount of Rs1 million for the construction of water reservoirs, confirmed senior lawyer Ch Aitzaz Ahsan.
https://twitter.com/SenatorAitzaz/status/1014507163216211968
The apex court formed a committee under the chairmanship of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) chief to monitor the progress of construction and directed that an account be opened with the SC’s registrar in which all donations will be collected.
The court also said that all those donating for the cause will not be asked of their sources of income.
Diamer-Bhasha dam:
To be built in KP and Gilgit-Baltistan falling in Kohistan and Bhasha areas. Will have the capacity to store 6.4 MAF of water and create 4,500MW electricity.
Mohmand dam:
To be built on Swat river in Manda area. Will have the capacity to store 0.676 MAF of water and create 800MW electricity.
Earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar said that a consensus has been developed for immediate construction of two new dams.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/ex-serviceman-sends-money-to-supreme-court-to-pay-off-pakistans-loan/
The top judge announced the good news during the hearing of the suo moto case related to waiving of Rs54 billion loans by 222 defaulters during the government of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
