Daily Times

DADU: Work on the Nai Gaj Dam project resumed on Thursday after deployment of heavy contingents of Frontier Constabulary and police.

Armed persons had disturbed the work after they attacked FC and the staff of Nai Gaj Dam some two days ago.

Nai Gaj Dam project is located at Nai Gaj Nullah some 70 kilometres away from Dadu City.

SSP Dadu claimed to have arrest the three main accused involved in attack. SSP said that weapons also were recovered all fully security was provided to the International Companies working on construction of Nai Gaj Dam project.

The local inhabitants, environmentalists, water experts and Nai Gaj Dam staff have demanded from Federal government to resolve the issues faced by management of Nai Gaj Dam to complete it in stipulated period as area can be benefited.

PD-Project Director of the construction of the Nai Gaj Dam project, Wazir Ahmed Qadri briefing to news men at Dam site on Thursday said that since 2014, owing to delaying of releasing of funds by Federal government, this only project of funded by WAPDA-Federal government in Sindh was affected.

He said that already the main schemes like releasing of water into Manchhar lake with discharge quantity of 50 cusecs through pipe lines from Nai Gaj Dam and establishing of power house generating 4.5 mega watt power was cut in the PC-1 of the Nai Gaj Dam project and it was injustice to the area.

He said that this Nai Gaj Dam project was started from April 30, 2012 with revised cost of 31.984 billion rupees and still 48% work of the project was completed. He said that till June 30, 2018, the Nai Gaj Dam was to be completed according its fixed date but owing to none releasing the funds and other issues it would not be completed. He said that the total amount of expenditures of executing companies was 15.41 billion rupees and dues were not paid 5.6 billion rupees till yet. He said that it is central core earth fill dam and it has 59 metres height and 1137 metres length with 1.40 million acres feet storage capacity of water. He said that main purpose of this dam was to irrigate barren land and supply water for drinking purpose. He said that the 90% work of 71 kilometres long left and right canals were completed. He said that 450 cusecs water will be supplied to area for the irrigation and drinking purpose and 75000 acres barren land of area will be cultivated.

He said that chairman of four International Companies working on construction of Nai Gaj Dam Sikandar Ali Jatoi has informed to the senior officers of WAPDA that if the Federal government or Sindh government are not releasing the funds and if it would be more delayed, the project will be closed.

Mr Wazir Ahmed Qadri said that despite of these hurdles, the work at Nai Gaj Dam was continuing but the if the problems and issues like delaying tactics in funds would not be solved it can affect the project.

Project engineer of the Nai Gaj Dam, Bashir Ahmed Abro highlighting the issues of security said that armed persons comprises on 25 to 30 had attacked the FC-Frontier Constabulary and staff of the dams during payment of the salaries owing to none paying them extortions. He said that they had created hurdles and after a quarrelled by FC staff and local police, control of the area was managed. He said that the work of the site was started with heavy machineries, deployment of more police staff and FC in area.

Highlighting the issues admin manager of the Nai Gaj Dam project demanded from Federal government to release the funds as soon as possible as, the work of Nai Gaj Dam can be completed for the benefit of the area.

A famous environmentalist, Roshan Ali Khushik said that the Manchhar Lake will be more polluted if the scheme of water releasing into Manchhar Lake will not be started from Nai Gaj Dam which scheme was cut by Federal government from revised PC-1 of the Nai Gaj Dam.

Another famous environmentalist, Naseer Memon said that Manchhar Lake has main source of receiving water from Nai Gaj nullah since the years if it would not be released Manchhar lake will lose its beauty, civilization owing to high pollution.

SSP Dadu, Shabbir Ahmed Sethar said that five FIRs were registered against 20 armed persons and three of them main accused were arrested and weapons were recovered from their possession. He said that high security was deployed at Nai Gaj Dam and if any will cause again disturbance in the construction work of the dam, he would be arrested.

Ex-GM Wapda south Mr Ali Sheer Baloch said that with completion of this Nai Gaj Dam project, the underground water of area will be charged and all saline water will turn into sweet. He said that area will be prosperous. He appealed to Chairman WAPDA to release funds on this project in the welfare of local people.

The inhabitants of surrounding villages and towns of Nai Gaj Dam like pat Gul Mohammad, Haji Khan, Heero Khan, Qasibo, Tore, Wahi Pandhi, Gozo, salari have appealed to from prime minister of Pakistan Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif to pay attention on this project of construction of Nai Gaj Dam, and take efforts to release all dues and funds on this project as it can be completed in stipulated period.