SC orders funds allocation for Nai Gaj Dam
 

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Tuesday directed the federal as well as Sindh government to provide funds to the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) for construction of Nai Gaj Dam in Sindh.The dam is expected to overcome water shortages and irrigate an area of 28,000 acers in the province.A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard a petition filed by Rashid A Rizvi, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court.Rizvi had prayed the apex court to order allocation of sufficient funds for completing the dam as early as possible.He submitted that Gaj was a hill torrent emanating from Khuzdar district of Balochistan that entered the Manchhar Lake after passing through the plains of Kutch.The petitioner contended that Nai Gaj area remained dry for eight months and got water in four months during the monsoon.Nai Gaj flows often devastate flood protective bunds and inundate agricultural lands when Manchhar Lake is not in a position to receive flows after attaining peak level during the monsoon.The Monsoon water, after inundating agricultural lands and devastating houses and standing crops, falls into the sea and, as such, a huge amount of water is wasted.On Tuesday, the court also directed the Planning Division and Sindh Water Board secretary to submit reports pertaining to required funds for construction of the dam.The court asked if the government did not remember about 2010 floods wherein the flow of all the flood water towards the area of Nai Gaj. The court observed that all the rain fall will be wasted.Justice Gulzar Ahmed inquired if the provincial government was not interested about development work, as every year funds were allocated [for the Nai Gaj Dam] but the money was then wasted.The deputy attorney general, however, informed the court that the federal government was determined to provide its share of funds for the project and was awaiting the Sindh government’s response.Justice Gulzar Ahmed, however, asked whether the federal and provincial government lacked coordination.The court directed the federal and provincial governments to ensure provision of funds for construction of dam and adjourned further hearing for a month.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/cwEr/~4/lfL8WcJuGmc

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