ABBOTTABAD:
A local court in Abbottabad has issued a stay order on the Janderbari water supply scheme 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, have expressed concern over possible water shortages and environmental implications arising from the project.
Renowned lawyer and District Bar Association General Secretary Asad Khan Jadoon, presenting his arguments before civil judge V Altaf Khan, argued that the plan, which aims to divert local water resources to Abbottabad city, threatens residents’ access to the Nadi Dor water source, vital for drinking, agriculture and other essential needs.
They fear that this diversion could cause a serious water crisis in their communities. Concerns have also been raised about the impact on local tourism, particularly as Nadi Harno serves as a major picnic spot for local and national tourists.
The Janderbari water supply scheme, costing Rs 18,000 crore, is part of the KPCIP projects and is claimed to meet the water demand of Abbottabad for the next 50 years.
Despite major 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 remain over the feasibility of the project, as reports indicate that the source can provide only 60 to 80 liters per second (LPS), while the plan aims to deliver around 200 LPS.
Community leaders say around 60,000 residents could be negatively affected by the project, alleging that advocates are pressuring locals to drop their objections. This has sparked unrest in the community, with demands for the immediate halt of 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 required water is currently available at source for the proposed scheme. Local residents have also expressed displeasure at the lack of proper consultation from the beginning, saying that significant community input could have highlighted critical ideas about seasonal variations in water flow.
Technical experts have criticized several engineering decisions, including the selection of a two-foot diameter pipe despite reported water supply limitations, and the proposed transmission route, which could lead to further inefficiencies.
In response to these concerns, advocates have called for a comprehensive technical reassessment of the plan to ensure responsible resource management and sustainable benefits for local populations. They emphasized the community’s fundamental right to access the Nadi Dor waterway, an essential resource that has historically sustained local livelihoods, and argued that the government must safeguard it for present and future generations.
