Victims of Mirani Dam: Senate panel voices concern over delay in paying compensation

Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources has directed relevant federal and Balochistan government departments to clear compensation amount of Rs 3,500 million to victims of Mirani Dam. The meeting of the committee was held with Senator Shamim Afridi in the chair here at the Parliament House on Tuesday.
The committee expressed serious concerns over delay in payment of compensation to the victims of the Mirani Dam, Balochistan, and directed chief secretary Balochistan and secretaries of irrigation, revenue and finance to be present in the next meeting.
The committee was informed that a total amount of Rs 3,500 million was to be paid in compensation with half share each by federal and Balochistan governments to the victims of the floods.The committee members were informed that even after twelve years of the flooding, many affectees are still living in slums and have not been compensated for the losses in 2007 floods in Makran Division.
The Mirani Dam was completed in June 2007 at normal reservoir capacity prepared for normal flood level but the area faced a super flood only one month after the completion of the project. The area experienced devastating results for land, houses, people, gardens and livestock.
The committee was informed that the compensation has been made to 1,634 affectees out of a total of 2,192 and the people left are mostly those whose gardens and plantations were destroyed.
The officials said that the inflation has gone up over the years and compensation money should also be proportionate. The committee stressed on the need to learn lessons from this disaster and having efficiently drawn plans of action. The committee also discussed the matter of inclusion of sewerage water into the water being released from Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project.
The CEO NJHPC gave a detailed briefing on the matter and told the committee that the environmental impact study was conducted and measurements were considered on how much outflow of water will be able to dilute the sewerage input in the water. The committee also expressed strong displeasure at the delay in finalisation of PC-1 and tendering process of Naulong Dam in Jhal Magsi, Balochistan, since it was first initiated in 2009.
The committee members were informed that the project PC-1 has been prepared by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) at an estimate of Rs 28 billion and tendering will start soon. The project will be funded through 20 percent by PSDP and 80 percent by the Annual Development Plan.