Mirpur: At least 50,000 people are likely to be displaced from the Mirpur district of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after the height of the Mangla dam on the Jhelum is increased by 40 ft. The increase in height of the 12th largest dam in the world was necessitated by silt deposits, which have reduced the quantum of electricity generated by it. Power generated by the dam is supplied to the entire PoK and the neighbouring Punjab.

When the dam was built in the 1960s, more than one lakh people were displaced. The entire Mirpur city was flooded as it formed part of the area comprising the dam's reservoir. A new city was established but it failed to solve the problems caused by the largescale displacement.

Since its completion in 1967, the storage capacity of the dam has reduced by 20 per cent due to the deposit of sediments. Chinese engineers are supervising the work to increase the dam height from the existing 1,210 ft. It would result in additional power generation capacity.

Compensation

Habib-ur-Rehman, PoK Deputy Director of Social Welfare, told The Hindu : "It is true that there would be a displacement of around 8,000 families, comprising around 50,000 people. But those who are displaced would be given money as compensation, as per prevailing market rates." But Mirpur residents were not very hopeful, in the light of their past experience.

Residents alleged that when the dam was built, the rehabilitation measures were far from satisfactory.

Many of those displaced were allotted land in the Punjab province, but some failed to get ownership rights due to the feudal structure there. There is a pending dispute over the royalty of the dam between the PoK Government and the Pakistan Government. "PoK is not getting its due share, from the fishing tenders on the reservoir sold for millions of rupees by the federal government. Our past experience makes us worry," Abdul Majeed Malik, retired Chief Justice of the PoK High Court said.

The main displacement would be caused in the Islamgarh, Chakswari, Sikah and Dadyal areas. Many people living in these areas would be displaced for the second time. Aftab Ahmed, a resident, said: "More than the monetary factor what hurts us is the fact that the graveyards of our forefathers have also come under the dam structure."

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