Nai Gaj dam construction: SC summons Sindh chief secretary on May 23

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday, while hearing a case pertaining to the construction of Nai Gaj Dam, summoned the Sindh chief secretary on May 23.

As the hearing went under way, the court said that the chief secretary should record his statement regarding the construction of Nai Gaj Dam.

“If the people of Sindh don’t want water, that is their choice,” Justice Azmat Saeed remarked during the hearing.

Expressing anger at the Sindh government the justice said, “We know which districts the Sindh government wants to flood. Does Sindh government want to us take the name of those districts in court?

He further said, “The chief secretary should give a statement stating that there is no need to irrigate the land in Dadu.”

“Once the chief secretary has given his statement, the court will then review its decision. It is possible we will review our orders regarding the construction of the dam. The court can no longer take the weight of this,” Justice Saeed added.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that the provincial government has now refused to accept the decision of Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC). “The cost of the construction of the dam keeps rising with the passing time,” he said, adding, “The earlier cost of the project was Rs26 billion. Now it is Rs46 billion.”

The court then adjourned the hearing till May 23.