Mirani dam becomes a liability Kech area victimsstill awaiting compensation

LAHORE: Even after completion of six years, Mirani Dam command area presents a deserted look, while the victims of Kech area are still waiting for compensation of the damages they have to face due to backflow from the ill-planned lake five years ago, sources said on Friday.
Owing to inefficient management of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Mirani dam has become a liability, as it failed to provide financial benefits to the people living in the far-flung area of the country, they said.
The sources also said that the dam was completed in 2006 to irrigate 33,200 acres of land in Makran Division of Balochistan. However, the lack of coordination between the executing agency and Balochistan government has resulted in the dam to remain non-functional. Only a fraction of the total area has been leveled for agriculture purposes. The remaining area in the vicinity of dam has been blurred under plumes of dust blowing over arid soil.
Almost five years ago, the sources said that the Mirani dam saga took an ugly turn when on the night of June 26-27, a huge storm resulted in backflow of water from it that wreck havoc in upstream of the dam. Billions of rupees worth of property, including orchards were flattened by gushing floods, the sources said, adding that around 10,000 families were affected and 30,000 pieces of agriculture land were washed away.
The authorities concerned paid partial compensation to certain victims, while the remaining are still awaiting compensation.After five years, a two-member delegation of the Planning Commission visited the affected area to assess the damage. A report in this regard would be presented to the officials concerned in a few days, the sources said.
The district administration calculated the extent of the damage at Rs4 billion, but to no avail.Sharif Shambazi, who is leading a group of affected people, said Wapda did not pay heed to the suffering of the people. After a protest, he said, the authorities realised the intensity of the problem of poor people and gave assurance to look into the issue.
He claimed the area hit hard by manmade floods included union council Nasirabad, Nodiz and Klatuq. Around 5,000 families are yet to be given relief, he said.Meanwhile, a Wapda official said the authorities have nothing to do with the compensation package, adding that it was up to the federal government to give compensation.
He admitted that a meeting was held recently in Wapda House to ascertain the actual situation and now the Planning Commission is assessing the damage claims.About non-functioning of dam, he said, it was purely the responsibility of the Balochistan government to develop the command area. “We have completed the dam and it is functional as far as impounding of water in storage site is concerned.”
As per the claim made by Wapda about benefits of Mirani Dam, It is said that this water sector project is vital for socioeconomic development of the backward areas, as it would boost agriculture, develop fisheries and livestock, help mitigate floods and provide water for domestic use.Mirani dam project is located on the River Dasht, 40km west of Turbat in Makran region of Balochistan.