Rawalpindi A large number of people who were affected by raising level of Mangla Dam have threatened to adopt strict line of action if the federal government fails to resolve their issue related to payment of compensations to them in near future. The threatening call of adopting strict strategy was given at a protest demonstration held outside the Commissioner Office staged in connection with failure of Punjab government to pay compensations to the affected people of Mangla Dam for the last three years. The demonstration was led by representatives of Anjuman Mutasareen Mangla Dam, Potohar Region, which included prominent social figure, Raja Jahangir Akhtar and chairman of the Anjuman-e-Mutasareen, Makhdoom Ali Syed and well participated by Dr Makhdoom Ali Syed, Ch. Mukhtar Ahmed, Mohammad Shafaat, Mazloom Hussein Shah, Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali besides large number of other members. The demonstrators were carrying placards and banners and were raising slogans against the government. Addressing the demonstrators, Raja Jehangir Akhtar vehemently criticized the Punjab government for showing ignorance and indifference towards payments of compensations to large number of people who were badly affected by the raising of the level of Mangla Dam since 2013. The people in the great interest of the country had sacrificed their lands, houses, schools and private buildings during the raising of Mangla Dam level. After much hue and cry by the people demanding compensation, the government authorities had made survey for assessment of estimates of compensation payments. However, no action has yet been taken for paying charges of our losses, they claimed. On the other hand, the people of AJK who were also affected by dam upraising have been compensated well. If the related government still fails to resolve this issue then the affected people of Mangla Dam while adopting strict stance would boycott the upcoming local bodies elections and stage demonstrations in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Kalar Syedan and set up protest camps outsides the houses of the elected representatives in the governments, the demonstrators warned. Over 114 families are affected due to raising of the level of Mangla Dam. As the demonstration was underway, the Commissioner Rawalpindi, Capt (r) Zahid Saeed summoned the protestors in his office with the purpose of resolving the issue. DCO Sajid Zafar Daal and Additional Commissioner Collector Arif Rahim were also present on the occasion besides other related officials. Raja Jehangir Akhtar briefed the commissioner about the entire issue. On this the commissioner after ascertaining the causes of non-payment from the related officials told Jehgangir Akhtar that Wapda has prepared estimates of payment of compensations which has been forwarded to the Ministry of Planning and Development which would release the funds in this regard. Meanwhile, Makhdoom Ali Syed and Jehangir Akhtar after holding meeting with the commissioner, while talking to this correspondent, demanded of the government including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Punjab chief minister for redressal of their issue which is the genuine right of the affected people.
