SC orders immediate construction of Nai Gaj Dam

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court has ordered immediate construction of Nai Gaj Dam. The court has also directed the federal government and Sindh to provide funds to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). It also sought an implementation report regarding provision of funds from the Planning Division and Sindh Irrigation Secretary. During the hearing, Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked that rainwater will go waste after falling into the sea. “The Sindh government is not sincere in work. Perhaps it has forgotten the 2010 floods,” he said. A law officer informed the court that the federal government was ready to release its share of funds, but the provincial government had not yet given any reply in this regard. Justice Gulzar questioned if there was no coordination between the federal and provincial governments. “Funds are earmarked for the dam every year but they lapse,” he lamented. Later, the hearing was adjourned for a month. Earlier, the court directed the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to prepare a new PC-1 for the construction of Nai Gaj Dam. The Nai Gaj Dam is an embankment dam currently under construction on the Gaj River in the gorge area at the edge of Kirthar Mountains range about 65 km (40 miles) north-west of Dadu city in Sindh. The dam’s construction of the dam started in May 2012. It is estimated that water will be supplied from Nai Gaj Dam to 28,800 acres land in tehsil Johi and 300,000 acres in other areas of Dadu District. Moreover, Nai Gaj Dam will supply 50 cusecs of water to the Lake Manchar for decreasing its pollution. Furthermore, the water will also be supplied from the dam to Kachho desert and area of Kohistan in Dadu District.