ISLAMABAD: The environmental study of the 969 megawatt Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project was not completed and this can pose a potential threat to the area.
The Azad Jammu & Kashmir government has told the federal government several times that the clauses in the agreement must be implemented, yet the Ministry of Planning and WAPDA did not pay heed to the environmental impact of the project.
The documentary evidence that was revealed to the Daily Times showed that it was necessary to obtain the final approval from the Environmental Agency of the AJK government for the project. The use of earth moving machinery being used for the project is also producing large scale pollution in the area; severely affecting the natural greenery. In this regard, the Ministry of Environmental Change has also expressed its apprehension on the standard of the machinery being used on the project.
The three parties of the contract could not agree on the draft thus the AJK government has requested the federal government to convene a meeting to develop a future strategy regarding the environmental aspect of the project.
On the other hand, the spokesman of the AJK Prime Minister said the environmental study has been completed, adding that the AJK government has further issued a no objection certificate for the project.