Islamabad: A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar has sought plans from the government about issuance of funds for the construction of Nai Gaj Dam in Dadu district of Sindh, a news reported. The bench was hearing a petition moved through senior counsel Rasheed A Razvi.
The petitioner prayed the court to order the government for early provision of funds as well as consider increasing up to 100 cusecs of fresh water from the dam to Manchar Lake.
It maintained that construction of the dam was blocking the inflow of a huge quantity of fresh water to Manchar Lake. The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) had already proposed 50 cusecs of continued piped water supply to the lake from the dam.
The top court had earlier issued directives to the Planning Commission, WAPDA and the provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan in this case.
Nai Gaj is among 19 dams the Government of Pakistan plans to construct in its bid to enhance water storage capacity and tackle other water-related issues. The other proposed projects are Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Kurran Tangi Dam and Kurran Tangi Dam II, Naulong Dam, Winder Dam, Barra Dam, Akhnorri Dam, Shaivak Dam, Hangole Dam, Bhimbar Dam, Chanute Dam, Badinzai Dam, Tank Dam, Daklaigi Dam, Daraban Dam Saklaigi Dam, Dotarah Dam, and Kalabagh Dam.
Experts have projected that the construction of these dams will add 30 million acre foot (MAF) to the already depleting water reserves. Pakistan faces a looming water crisis and failure to address the issue may trigger a water shortfall of 31 MAF by 2025.
