Mangla Dam upraising and suffering of local Kashmiris
And if we spoke about Pakistan?

A seminar organised by the World Council for Peace, about the Mangla Dam and the human rights situation of the people of Kashmir took place, as a parallel event to the 55th Sub-Commission. The presentation was made by Shabir Choudhry, Chairman of the Diplomatic Committee of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front.

Mr. Choudhry started with a remark: Kashmiris are always ready to criticise India's acts, but never protest clearly when Pakistan does something wrong. He said people should recognise the mistakes of both sides.

He then reminded us the historic background of the Mangla Dam. The dam was built in 1967, in the region of Azad Kashmir (Mirpur), and controlled by Pakistan, despite the opposition of the local people. The construction was finally achieved but with heavy consequences: more than 200,000 families were uprooted, the environment of the region was damaged, and promises made to the Kashmiris by the Pakistani government (e.g. alternative residential plots, free electricity, a railway station and a railway line connecting Mirpur with national rail network of Pakistan, royalties for the dam paid to Azad Kashmir government) were unfortunately never honoured.

Mr. Choudhry then compared the situations of the Mangla Dam and the Tarbela Dam (which was constructed in a Pakistani territory after the Mangla Dam), to reveal the double standards in the treatment of the different regions, and to expose the discrimination against the people of Azad Kashmir. With the Tarbela Dam, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) gave a monetary compensation (8237 billion rupees, according to WAPDA news from 27 June 2003) to the government of the province as a share of profit for the dam. In the case of Mangla Dam, no money has been given or received by the WAPDA to the province's government. Secondly, another dam project called Kala Bagh, was initiated by the Pakistani authorities. This dam was to be located in Pakistan this time. The local people there, like those in Kashmir, opposed fiercely, but their opposition was not put down by force. On the contrary, generous compensations have been offered to them. Mr. Choudhry said he thought that the British had been more comprehensive in regards to the Kashmiris when they occupied India. He developed this opinion with some facts.

The last part of the intervention was devoted to showing possible alternatives dealing with the upraising of the Mangla Dam. With this alternative, more than 100,000 more people would be uprooted again. The Mangla Dam has silting and maintenance problems. And, despite the fact that methods of de-silting was suggested to the WAPDA, authorities have decided to upraise the dam anyway. According to the experts, the cost of a de-silting operation would only be six billion Rupees. Upraising will cost 64 billion rupees. According to some sources (Kashmiri analysts and politicians, World Bank Country Director John Wal) , as quoted by Mr Choudhry, the problem is the prevailing corruption in Pakistan. Some corrupted officials may be misappropriating large sums, which were originally allocated for the Mangla Dam.

Mr. Choudhry finished by briefly raising the question of the money owed by Pakistani government to Azad Kashmir. This money is owed as payment for the State property situated in different parts of Pakistan. It has not been paid since the partition of India, when Pakistan took over these properties.

By: Alicia Pary

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