LHC orders construction of KBD

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday ordered the federal government to construct the Kalabagh dam.
According to a private television channel, the order was issued by LHC Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial during today’s hearing of petitions calling for the construction of the dam.
The court directed the government to construct the dam and fulfill its responsibilities under Article 154 of the Constitution.
Earlier, the petitioners had submitted that non-construction of the dam would render the country’s agricultural land barren. They had stated that the project was in the interest of all provinces and objections were of a technical nature, which could be removed.
The petitioners had said the technical committee on water resources on April 11, 2005 had given green signal for the dam’s construction. They had moreover submitted that the court should issue a clear-cut directive for the completion of the project.
They had further stated that in June 1985 and July 1989 the planning and development division had decided to construct the dam. The counsels’ had also said that in 2004 the LHC had ordered for taking measures for the dam’s construction.