ABBOTTABAD:
A local court in Abbottabad has passed a stay order on the Janderbari water supply project following a petition filed by over a hundred residents of various village councils, including Janderbari, Phulkot, Dhakki Khaitar and Aziz Bang.
The petitioners, represented by social activist Shezad Gul Awan, raised concerns over possible water shortages and environmental implications arising from the project.
Renowned lawyer and general secretary of the district bar association Asad Khan Jadoon, while presenting before civil judge V Altaf Khan, contended that the project, which aims to divert local water resources to Abbottabad city, threatened residents’ access to the Nadi Dor water source, vital for drinking, agriculture and other essential needs.
They fear this diversion will lead to a serious water crisis in their communities. Concerns have also been raised about the impact on local tourism, especially as Nadi Harno serves as a major picnic spot for local and domestic tourists.
The Janderbari Water Supply Project, costing Rs 18 billion, is part of the KPCIP projects and is expected to meet the water demand of Abbottabad for the next 50 years.
Despite significant infrastructure development, including the installation of 24-inch diameter pipelines across the city, experts say the pipelines have not been connected to Janderbari’s main source. Concerns about the viability of the project persist, as reports indicate that the spring could provide only 60 to 80 liters per second (LPS), while the project aims to provide around 200 LPS.
Community leaders say about 60,000 residents could be negatively affected by the project, alleging that its proponents are pressuring residents to withdraw their objections. This has caused unrest within the community, with demands for an immediate halt to the project, which they say threatens their rights and livelihoods.
Independent assessments linked to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have raised further concerns, suggesting that only 38 to 45 percent of the water needed is currently available at the source for the proposed project. Local residents also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of adequate consultations from the outset, saying meaningful community input could have shed light on crucial information about seasonal variations in water flow.
Technical experts criticized several technical decisions, including the choice of a two-foot diameter pipeline despite reported water supply constraints, and the proposed transmission route, which could lead to further inefficiencies.
In response to these concerns, advocates have called for a complete technical reassessment of the project to ensure responsible resource management and sustainable benefits for local populations. They highlighted the community’s fundamental right to access the Nadi Dor water canal – a critical resource that has always supported local livelihoods – and argued that the government must protect it for present and future generations.
