ABBOTTABAD:
A local court in Abbottabad has issued an order suspending the Janderbari Water Supply Scheme following a petition filed by over a hundred residents of various village councils including Janderbari, Phulkot, Dhakki Khaitar and Aziz Bang.
The petitioners, represented by social activist Shezad Gul Awan, have expressed concern over potential water shortages and environmental impacts arising from the project.
Noted lawyer and District Bar Association General Secretary Asad Khan Jadoon, while presenting arguments before Civil Judge-V Altaf Khan, argued that the scheme, which aims to divert local water resources to Abbottabad city, threatens residents’ access to the Nadi Dor water source – vital for drinking, agriculture and other essential needs.
They fear that this diversion could lead to a serious water crisis in their communities. Concerns have also been raised about the impact on local tourism, particularly as Nadi Harno serves as an important picnic spot for both local and national tourists.
The Janderbari Water Supply Scheme, costing Rs.18 billion, is part of the KPCIP projects and is claimed to meet Abbottabad’s water needs for the next 50 years.
Despite significant infrastructure development, including the installation of 24-inch diameter pipelines across the city, experts say the pipelines have not been connected to the main Janderbari source. Concerns over the viability of the project continue as reports indicate the source can only deliver 60 to 80 liters per litre. second (LPS), while the scheme aims to deliver around 200 LPS.
Community leaders claim that around 60,000 residents could be adversely affected by the project, claiming that its supporters are pressuring locals to withdraw their objections. This has led to community unrest with demands for an immediate halt to the project, which they say threatens their rights and livelihood.
Independent assessments linked to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have raised further concerns, suggesting that only 38 to 45 percent of the required water is currently available at the source of the proposed scheme. Local residents have also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of adequate consultation from the start, saying meaningful community input could have highlighted critical insights about seasonal water flow variations.
Engineering experts have criticized several engineering decisions, including the selection of a two-foot-diameter pipeline despite reported water supply constraints and the proposed transmission route, which could lead to further inefficiencies.
In response to these concerns, advocates have called for a comprehensive technical review of the scheme to ensure responsible resource management and sustainable benefits for local people. They emphasized the community’s fundamental right to access the Nadi Dor water channel – an important resource that has historically supported local livelihoods – and argued that the government must protect it for current and future generations.
