Victims of hydropower project block road in protest

MANSEHRA: The affectees of 860 megawatts Suki Kinari Hydropower Project on Tuesday launched protest and blocked the main road to traffic for the entire day.

“We want market price of our land, free electricity and rights for labourers, but the government is not fulfilling its commitments despite accepting our charter of demands,” Mian Ashraf, the chairman of the action committee of affected people, told the protesters.

The protesters staged sit-in near Ayub Bridge in the heart of Balakot town and blocked the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road to all sort of traffic, causing inconvenience to commuters and motorists.

The protesters were chanting slogans against federal and province governments and in support of their demands.

Speaking to protesters, Umar Shah, the member committee, said that some influential people including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Health Shahram Tarakai, who were shareholders in company SK Hydro working in the mega project, were creating hurdles in the way of market prices and other incentives for the affected families.

Balakot Tehsil Nazim Ibrahim Shah said that people wanted nothing else but market prices of their land and public welfare projects announced by government when project was launched some 10 years ago.

Speaking on the occasion, former MPA Mazhar Ali Qasim said that the government should ensure rights of the landowners protected. “We want package like that being extended to Diamer-Bahsha Dam and Dassu Dam affectees,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, former provincial minister Ahmad Hussain Shah said that labourers were being paid very meager daily wages.