Muzaffarabad: Hundred of locals living in Muzaffarabad rose against Pakistan in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) area. They were protesting against the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower plant and also against the construction of other dams in the region.
The locals say that these projects only benefit other provinces like Punjab in Pakistan, while they are left to face water scarcity. PoK do not even get a fair share of electricity that they are entitled to.
The Neelum-Jhelum hydropower plant produces 1,500 MW of electricity. However, PoK has serious power shortages even though the area only requires 400 MW to 500 MW.
Additionally, the diversion of water from the Neelum and Jhelum rivers to power the hydropower plant has led to shortage of water to the area. Water scarcity is so severe in PoK, that the people are forced to live their homeland or forced to live in very tiring environment.
The mounting environmental degradation has also forced the people to oppose the Pakistan’s government to construct more dams in the region.
The Pakistani government has been insensitive to the developmental aspirations of the people in PoK. The people of Balochisthan is also facing a similar hardship under the Pakistan regime. The central government of Pakistan is only interested in exploiting these regions for their natural resources without making any effort to share it with the local population.
