In protest of the Water and Power Development Authority ( Wapda ), the Diamer Bhasha Dam’s residents in Gilgit-Baltistan blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH) on Wednesday. According to The Dawn, they allege that Wapda broke its promise to pay them for the land they gave up for the structure of the dam.
Before leaving their homes, which were being sold to make way for the Dasu electricity job, the protesters demanded that they receive any pending payments as financial aid.
Eventually, the motion council of the Diamer Bhasha Dam organized a sit- in opposition, blocking the KKH at the Gechi region of Chilas in GB’s Diamer area. On both sides of the road, thousands of cars were stranded by this activity.
According to Dawn, Wapda, Diamer Deputy Commissioner (DC ) Captain ( retd ) Muhammad Arif claimed that the protesters had obfied Wapda’s demand for compensation.
He mentioned engaging in conversations with the demonstrators, promising to communicate their message to the Wapda president and another key government officials. Although the president’s attend was anticipated next year, the demonstrators did not agree to this arrangement.
DC Arif added that the path was quickly opened for a half-hour, allowing stranded automobiles to go the siege. However, the path was later re-obstructed as a result of the protesters ‘ demands that the Wapda president meet them at the sit-in site.
The leaders of the continuous sit-in, Atiullah and Muhammad Iqbal, have pledged to stay put on the road until their expectations are addressed. They assert that the affected people have long sought Chula payment, but the government and Wapda authorities have ignored their pleas.
The affectees, who have made substantial concessions by sacrificing their estates, are angry that the government has broken its promise to pay more than 800 persons, according to Dawn.
Many travellers are stranded as a result of the opposition, which has caused disruption for commuters between Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad. A customer traveling to Hunza Gilgit, Muhammad Jamil, shared that their children and families were stuck on the road for six hours. Just recently after the demonstrators cleared the path were they able to continue their journey because the road had to be blocked once more.
( With inputs from agencies )
