Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Plant Project: Protests Held in Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad, December 19: Protests were held against Pakistan government in Pakistan administered Kashmir’s (PaK) Muzaffarabad demanding immediate termination of the hydropower plant project underway on the Neelum-Jhelum rivers. The protesters also demanded authorities to refrain from sanctioning any further projects.
Locals blamed the Pakistan government for recklessly exploiting natural resources of the area.
Last week also, women activists staged a protest in Muzaffarabad against Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project. A large number of protestors came out and raised slogans against Pakistan government. The project has affected the lives of many people and has forced them to migrate to other places.
The Neelum–Jhelum Hydropower is designed to divert water from the Neelum River to a power station on the Jhelum River. The power station is located 42 km south of Muzaffarabad, and has an installed capacity of 969 MW. Construction on the project began in 2008 after a Chinese consortium was awarded the construction contract in July 2007.
