Govt offers two options to Dasu dam affectees

MANSEHRA: The district administration of Upper Kohistan has offered two options to families displaced because of the 4300 megawatts Dasu Hydropower Project.

“We have offered two viable options to the affected families under the self-management resettlement policy after a hectic negotiations process,” Arif Khan Yousufzai, the deputy commissioner, told reporters on Thursday.

He maintained that as the government wanted to address all the just demands of the affected families, a comprehensive package was finalised.

“Under the rehabilitation package, the affectees, who would opt to live in the resettlement villages, will acquire land for their houses and the government will provide civic services and other infrastructure. The government will also give Rs0.5 million to each family,” said Yousufzai.

The official said that under the second option, the displaced families would be given Rs3.5 million as compensation.

“These two most viable options were finalised as there were differences of opinions among the displaced families whether or not to avail the resettlement package,” said Yousufzai.

While giving details of the situation on the ground, the official said that initially, around 90 percent of the displaced families were demanding a piece of land for the construction of their houses.