Islamabad(June 30, 2018): The Chief Justice of Pakistan on Saturday remarked that consensus has been developed for immediate construction of two new dams in view of the chronic water crisis in the country.
CJP Justice Saqib Nisar made the remarks while hearing a suo motu case related to Rs54 billion worth of loan waivers carried out by 222 individuals and companies.
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The top judge observed that the consensus was developed during a key meeting with experts and various stakeholders earlier this week. The amount recovered from the defaulters will be used to construct two new dams immediately, the CJP remarked.
Chief Justice Nisar stated that some of the defaulters have expressed willingness to pay 75 percent of the written-off loan amount, whereas those who do not return the amount will be sent to the banking courts.
The court then adjourned hearing of the case till July 4.
New Dams: CJP Directs To Address Provinces’ Reservations:
No disputed dam would be constructed sans addressing the reservations of all provinces, said Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar on Wednesday.
Addressing a consultative meeting to evaluate the severity of water shortage and recommend remedial measures, he said the Supreme Court would provide institutional support in this regard.
The chief justice urged experts to share proposals to initiate the construction of dams and reservoirs to encounter the issue of water crises in the country,
Experts while addressing the meeting called for constructing Bhasha dam, saying that Kalabagh dam should also be constructed after evolving consensus among all federating units.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, was organized by Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan in the conference room of Supreme Court of Pakistan to discuss water scarcity issue at length.
The experts demanded the constitution of a task force for appointing consultants to validate construction design of the dams.
They said no dam or reservoir was constructed in the country since last 40 years putting the country in drastic position and situation.
No water policy could be regularized at the national level and people were dying due to non-availability of water in remote areas of the country, they added.
The housing societies should be directed to construct their water reservoirs to cater the needs of their residents, they said, adding CDA and WASA should manage untreated water. The sugar cane cultivation should be eliminated as it consume huge water.
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