People in Muzaffarabad city of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir are furious because apart from their freedom , even their Water is being stolen by Pakistan. They have been openly accusing Pakistan of diverting water from Neelum River to feed its Punjab province, leaving them – quite literally – high and dry.
As per a report made by ANI , the locals of Muzaffarabad have complained that fresh water from the river is being channelled from the mountains to the Punjab province and this has resulted in the river drying up around their area.
“We can live without electricity but how can we live without water.The water level in the river has declined drastically and the available water is mostly sewage. We are feeling the heat because of rising temperatures.”
The locals here are also protesting against the proposed construction of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project. They say it would completely benefit people of Pakistan and leave them without anything. “They should give us free electricity but instead, they charge four times from us. They should come up with a compensation package for our area,” said another local.
The locals say they were hoping monsoon rains would re-charge Neelum River but even that has not happened. Residents of Muzzafarabad say that waters of Neelum River is being diverted to Punjab province and that this has increased scarcity in their area.
While , as usual Pakistan keeps harping on a foreign conspiracy behind protests against its hydropower projects. Earlier this month, the country’s caretaker minister for water resources said opposition to Kalabagh Dam is being funded by foreign countries.
He made this statement despite vehement protests within Pakistan itself against the project which could displace thousands as well as cause enormous environmental damage.
