MANSEHRA: The Muttahida Kohistan Jirga on Wednesday announced that if the Water and Power Development Authority didn’t fulfil its commitments with Kohistan residents, it won’t be allowed to lay 132kv and 432kv transmission lines from Dubair Khawar hydropower project to the Dasu hydropower project.

Former MPA Maulana Asmatullah told reporters in Pattan area that the Wapda chairman had signed an agreement with Kohistan residents for rebuilding the Dubair, Ranolia, and Kiyal roads, which were washed away in the 2022 flash floods, but Wapda didn’t fulfil its commitments.

Another former MPA, Maulana Dildar Ahmad, said under a 13-point agreement between locals and Wapda, the former had agreed not to obstruct the laying of transmission lines.

“As Wapda has yet to fulfil its commitments, we will not allow it to take transmission lines through Upper and Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas districts,” he said.

Local elder Malik Salahuddin accused Wapda of trying to “create a law and order situation by forcibly installing transmission lines.”

Earlier this week, the Muttahida Kohistan Jirga stopped Wapda from laying transmission lines between the Dubair Khawar and Dasu hydropower projects in the Pattan area.

“We are prepared to address the situation and will not allow anyone to challenge the government’s writ,” the Lower Kohistan police said in a statement.

They also said the deputy commissioner would convene a jirga in Dubair to be attended by the Wapda general manager to resolve issues peacefully as transmission lines were crucial for the two major energy projects.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2024