Mansehra landowners forcibly stop work on hydropower projects

MANSEHRA: Landowners of two small hydropower projects being built at Indus River in Dassu Kohistan and River Siren in Jabori area of Mansehra district have forced respective companies to stop work on the projects as they alleged non-payment of money for their land.
The construction work on 20mw Jabori micro hydropower project was suspended by the executing company after the landowners belonging to different villages stormed the project site and forcibly stopped the work. Speaking to media, leaders of a local committee, constituted by landowners to discuss their problems and issues with the company and lawmakers, said that despite an agreement the company was not honouring its commitments with the landowners. “We have yet to receive money for our land acquired for the project and those who were given labour jobs were dismissed without any reasons; this is unacceptable to us,” said Khalid Khan, an elder.
He said the company was not paying heed to its agreement that was why they were left with no option but to stop work. The elder said the company, which had been awarded contract by the KP government for the project, breached the memorandum of understating signed with local people. He said that landowners would not allow the company to restart the work till their demands were honoured. The same situation was also witnessed in Dassu where the landowners also forced the company concerned to stop the work on Kial hydropower project.