Federal government through the Council of Common Interest (CCI) has given formal approval for the construction of Diamer-Basha dam in absence of any representation of Gilgit-Baltistan - the area that would be most affected after construction of the dam.
At its maiden meeting on Sunday since the passage of 18th Amendment, the CCI gave formal approval for the construction of Diamer-Basha dam, but unlike other federating units, there was no representation of the key stakeholder (Gilgit-Baltistan). The GB Chief Minister was even absent from the meeting.
Although the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led government takes credit for empowering the area by giving it a status equivalent to a province, but in practical the area has neither representation in the CCI nor the NFC - the two key forums. The CCI decision has further increased concerns among the people of GB as the key forum has directed Wapda to go ahead for construction of the dam. The project to be completed in 2019, would have a storage capacity of 6.4 million acre-feet and would produce 4,500 megawatts of electricity.
Though the dam would overcome the energy shortage in the country to a great extent, the project would displace over 25,000 people of Diamer district along with having negative environmental impact on the area. Some environmentalists even predict that the water reservoir would further disturb the weather condition of the mountainous area and would affect local crops and fruits - the main source of local livelihood.
When contacted Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah for his comments, he said that he did not attend the CCI meeting, as he is not member of the forum. He said that the membership of Gilgit-Baltistan in the CCI is under discussion and would soon be notified.
When the GB CM was asked whether he has any reservation about the recent decision regarding the construction of Diamer-Basha dam without his representation, he said, since there is a government of his own party in the Centre he has no such reservation as the issues would be resolved gradually. To a question, he said that compensation package for the dam affectees has approved by the Prime Minister and funds would soon be released.
Talking to Business Recorder, Bashir Ahmed Khan, an opposition lawmaker in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly belonging to the dam affected Diamer district lamented that the federal government has totally ignored GB as far as representation in some important forums is concerned. He said that Gilgit-Baltistan should have representation in CCI and also a share in the NFC award.
He regretted that Chief Minister Mehdi Shah was ignored while taking key decisions related to the construction of the dam, saying it would overcome the country's energy shortage but would sink our area. Bashir said that the opposition would take up the issue in the GB Assembly as to why the Chief Minister was not invited to the key meeting where at least he could have conveyed the demands of the affected people of the mega project to the concerned authorities.
Bashir further said that the federal government had promised to fulfil the Charter of Demands of the affected people but there is no headway in this regard. The Wapda, he said, should have started recruitment of the locals along with compensation to the displaced families, but no progress had been made so far.