DADU, Feb 18: Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said that a hydro power project will be installed at the Nai Gaaj dam. He said that Kachho, Johi, Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Mehar would receive electricity from the project.

Talking to reporters in Dadu on Saturday, he said that no environmental defect was found in the Nai Gaaj dam during a survey by Wapda experts. Mr Jatoi said that the dam was not dangerous for the area as only rainwater would be stored in it which would be used for agricultural and drinking purpose.

He said that the catchment area of the Gaaj river was 2,460 square miles and the height of the dam was 150 feet and length 3,840 feet. Live storage capacity of water is 130MAF and the command area will be 50,000 acres according to the survey, which later will be extended to 300,000 acres.

He said that not only this, but the dam water would also be provided to the Manchhar Lake for rehabilitation of fishermen.

The federal minister said that only vested interests were opposing the dam which would cultivate all barren lands of Kachho and no drought-like condition would prevail in the area.

He said that President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would inaugurate the Nai Gaaj dam.

Sindh Taraqi Passand Party district president and other people said that a canal would be taken out from Nai Gaaj dam to cultivate lands of close friends and voters of Liaquat Ali Jatoi.

They were talking to reporters at the Dadu press club.

They said that water would be closed at the zero point of the Nai Gaaj Nala towards Manchhar lake and hundreds of villages of Kachho would be deprived of irrigation and drinking water.

They said the STPP had organized a seminar in Johi town on February 27, on the issue where water experts and political leaders had been invited to discuss the issue.

PROTEST: Activists of the Sindh National Party took out a procession outside the press club on Saturday in protest against the Khokhropar-Monabao train service.

They were led by district president of the party, Manzoor Jamali.

Speaking on the occasion, Manzoor Jamali said that by opening Khokhropar border, outsiders would occupy resources of Sindh and Sindhis would be converted into a minority.

He said that it was a pre-planned conspiracy by the federal government to destroy Sindh.

He said that the SNP would continue its protests against the train service.

SNP activists also held protests in Mehar and Jamshoro.