Authorities are creating a controlled breach to release accumulated water in the Dadocha Dam catchment, reducing the immediate threat of greater flooding. Photo: Express
RAWALPINDI:
The district administration has issued final red notices to all residents living in the 7,250 kanals acquired for the Dadocha Dam project, ordering them to self-demolish their houses, sheds and cattle enclosures and vacate the entire area by December 31.
Authorities have warned that any property not vacated on time will be bulldozed on January 1.
Following the issuance of the latest notices, residents began to demolish their houses and stables themselves, while the conflict over land compensation intensified.
The 270 affected families have announced that they will file appeals in court, arguing that the official rate of Rs 239,000 per canal is just “peanuts” for such valuable land.
Three villages, including Khanpur, Bharwala and Mohra Faizullah, will be completely obliterated as their entire land lies within the dam site.
In Dadocha village, Razi Sohal, and four adjacent settlements, only agricultural land and forest areas come under the project.
Located 25 km from Rawalpindi, the dam is planned in the Dadocha village of Kallar Syedan. Its estimated cost in 2022 was Rs6.027 million with a completion target of December 31, 2025.
Due to rising costs of construction materials, the estimate has now jumped to Rs14 billion and the completion has been extended till December 31, 2027.
The dam will supply 35 million gallons of water per day to Rawalpindi and has a storage capacity of 60,000 acres (60,000 acres). FWO executes the project.
Ajmal Jamshed, a landowner affected by the project, said the administration and paramilitary forces started demolishing the houses by force. Some households have received partial compensation, while 90 percent have not received “a single cent” and are told that compensation will only be paid after they vacate the land.
Those who were paid received Rs 16,000-17,000 per marla, which residents reject.
The affected families say they have decided to file appeals before the civil court referee to obtain compensation at market rates.
