Diamer-Basha Dam affected people announce sit-in on KKH

GILGIT: Unveiling a 31-point charter of demands to address their grievances regarding compensation, rehabilitation, and socio-economic rights, the affected people of the Diamer-Basha Dam project have announced a protest sit-in on the main Karakoram Highway (KK) in Chilas on Sunday.

The affected people have demanded the resolution of compensation for displaced families, landowners, and businesses, along with infrastructure development, employment opportunities, and access to utilities for the affected population.

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According to the charter, they demand that families categorized under the ‘missing chulha affected’—those who received compensation up to 2015 but were omitted from subsequent lists—must be reinstated and granted their rightful compensation.

Additionally, they demand that every married couple among the displaced should be eligible for compensation.

They demanded the allotment of six kanals of agricultural land for each affected, as per the 2010 agreement.

The protesters urged authorities to ensure irrigation facilities for barren lands in the region through pipelines or canals to sustain agricultural activities.

The affected people have demanded a permanent wheat subsidy for Gilgit-Baltistan, citing the loss of agricultural land due to the dam project.

They demanded a monthly subsidized wheat quota of 14kg per person for Diamer residents.

They have sought market-based compensation for 18,700 acres of land that has been acquired for the dam.

They demand the construction of residential plots in the WAPDA model colony in Harban and Chilas, complete with essential amenities, mosques, and graveyards.

Other key points of their demands include compensation for structures constructed between 2015 and 2025 that were not previously surveyed.

They demand the correction of errors in previous property surveys that misclassified residential houses as stores, kitchens, or cattle sheds.

They demanded electricity provision to Diamer from the Diamer-Basha Dam at no cost and 80 per cent hydropower royalty for Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Daimer residents demanded the issuance of Green Cards and Health Cards for displaced families and an employment quota for Diamer residents in WAPDA, including 100 per cent implementation of a previous agreement ensuring local hiring for technical and non-technical posts in Grades 1 to 16.

The affected people demand the establishment of medical colleges, technical institutes, a WAPDA hospital, and a 25-megawatt power plant in Chilas.

They also demand priority job allocation for one member of each displaced family in government services.

The Daimer residents called for tax exemptions on the transportation of construction materials for resettlement and demand compensation and relocation support for businesses, shops, hotels, flour mills, and petrol stations affected by the project.

They demanded the provision of scholarships for students to pursue higher education domestically and abroad. They insist on granting tourism licenses for locals to operate businesses at post-dam tourist spots.

The affected people demanded infrastructure improvement in Chilas, including sewerage systems, drinking water facilities, and sports grounds.

They call for compensation for gold miners whose work will be impacted by dam construction.

They also demand permanent employment for daily wages and contract workers associated with the dam project.

They demanded the construction of alternative schools for those submerged by the project, transportation services for children to ensure access to education, development of interlinked road networks and travel facilities for communities divided by the reservoir, and a waiver of fees and charges for residents relocating to cities outside Diamer.

The Daimer residents demand the regular presence of WAPDA officials in Chilas to address grievances.

The protest organizers emphasized that these demands must be met to ensure justice for the thousands of people displaced by the dam project.

They urged authorities to resolve compensation issues promptly, warning of an intensified protest movement if their concerns remain unaddressed.