ISLAMABAD, Jan 11 (APP):The Supreme Court on Friday summoned the ministers for energy and finance and the secretary cabinet on January 15 in a case pertaining to the construction of Nai Gaj Dam .
A two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and
comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, heard the petition seeking directives for the allocation of
sufficient funds to complete the dam.
During course of proceedings, the Chief Justice expressed the desire that the matter of
Nai Gaj Dam's construction might be resolved within his tenure.
He said "I had hoped that this matter would be resolved during my tenure. However, some
wishes just remain wishes," CJ said, who is going to retire on January 17.
Meanwhile, Additional Attorney General Sajid Ilyas apprised the bench that the Central
Development Working Party (CDWP) during a meeting forwarded the proposal for the dam's
construction to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).
He said during the meeting, the federal and Sindh governments had disagreed on shared
financing of the Rs 46.5 billion Nai Gaj Dam but formed a committee to further scale down its
estimated cost.
The Chief Justice expressed displeasure and said the matter will now be stuck with the ECC.
"I wanted this matter to be resolved before my retirement", he added.
Justice Ahsan added, “Yet one week is left as Justice Nisar is going to be retired on
January 17.”
Subsequently, the court then summoned ministers for energy and finance and the secretary
cabinet on January 15 (Tuesday), and directed that the minutes of CDWP’s meeting be presented
before the court by next Monday.
It may be mentioned that Nai Gaj is a hill-torrent which emanates from Khuzdar district of
Balochistan and after passing through plains of Kutch, it eventually enters Manchar lake.
The Nai Gaj area remains dry for eight months and gets water in four months during monsoon
season. After Manchar lake attains its peak level and no more remains in a position to receive water
in monsoon season, water flows from Nai Gaj often devastate flood-protection bunds and inundate
agricultural lands.
