Civil Society terms mega dam announcement unconstitutional

ISLAMABAD—Terming it unconstitutional, authoritative and anti-people, civil society movements Friday denounced the government decision to build five mega dams without considerable discussion at appropriate fora.
Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Thursday told reporters that President Musharraf and the federal cabinet have decided that five major dams, Kalabagh, Akhori, Munda, Diamer-Bhasha and Kurram Tangi would be constructed before 2016. In a statement issued here, Sungi Development Foundation termed that government’s move is monarchical and against the democratic will of the people.
SUNGI representative Amjad Nazeer observed that decision to build these dams was contrary to international norms, which amply suggest such actions are rarely taken in haste and without participation of representative stakeholders, particularly the would be effectees. Dr Akram Sheikh categorically said that all other forums including ministries and departments were “bound to implement the decision. He also went on saying that “Cabinet was superior to the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and other technical bodies which were required to implement the decisions taken at the level of the president and the prime minister.
Referring to Dr Akram’s remark that “Nobody could question the decisions taken at such levels”, Mr Nazeer commented that such moves by the rulers rather question the prevalence of democracy or any democratic norm in the country. The SUNGI official said that keeping in view the history of mega water projects, state agencies have performed poorly in addressing the resettlement of hundreds of thousands of victims.Victims of Tarbela, Mangla Dams, Ghazi Barotha Hydropower projects, Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) and other projects are still decrying negative impacts of these endeavors and awaiting compensations,” he observed.
The government that it should learn the international experiences, research, along with the negative impacts of existing large water structures have put on the concerned population,” SUNGI urged.—Online