Authorities are carrying out a controlled breach to release accumulated water in the Dadocha Dam catchment area, reducing the immediate threat of major 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 demolish their houses, sheds and cattle pens and vacate the entire area by December 31.
Authorities warned that any property not vacated by the deadline will be demolished on January 1.
Following the issuance of final notices, residents began demolishing their houses and livestock sheds on their own, as the dispute over land compensation intensified.
The 270 affected families have announced that they will file their references in court, arguing that the official rate of Rs 239,000 per kanal is a pittance for such valuable land.
Three villages, including Khanpur, Bharwala and Mohra Faizullah, will be completely razed as their entire land will fall within the dam site.
In the village of Dadocha, 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 at Kallar Syedan village in Dadocha. Its estimated cost in 2022 was Rs 6,027 crore with a completion target of December 31, 2025.
Due to rising costs of construction materials, the estimate has now increased to Rs 14 billion and completion extended to December 31, 2027.
The dam will supply 35 million gallons of water per day to Rawalpindi and has a storage capacity of 60,000 acre-feet. FWO is executing the project.
Ajmal Jamshed, a landowner affected by the project, said the administration and paramilitary forces have started demolishing houses by force. Some families have received partial compensation, while 90 percent have not received “a single cent” and are told that compensation will only be paid after vacating the land.
Those who were paid received between Rs 16,000 and Rs 17,000 per marla, which residents reject.
The affected families say they have decided to file lawsuits before the referee judge of the civil court to obtain compensation at market rates.
