ISLAMABAD: A massive protest and torch rally has been organized in Muzaffarabad area of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) on Monday night to protest against the mega-dams being built by Chinese firms on the Neelum-Jhelum river. Amid the protests, the protesters of the committee 'Dariya Bachao, Muzaffarabad Bachao' (Save River, Save Muzaffarabad) are raising slogans like 'Neelam-Jhelum Bahene do, Hume Zinda Rahne Do'. It is also being said that more than one thousand people from the city and other parts of POK took part in the rally.
Recently, Pakistan and China have signed agreements for construction by Azad Pattan and Kohala Hydropower Company in Pak Occupied Kashmir. As part of the Sino-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC), the 700.7 MW power free Pattan hydro project has been signed on 6 July 2020. The $ 1.54 billion project has been conducted by the China Geozaba Company (CGGC).
The Kohala Hydroelectric Power Project which is being built on the Jhelum River is located about 7 km from Azad Pattan Bridge in POK's Sudhanoti district and 90 km from the Pakistani capital Islamabad. Expected to be completed by the year 2026, the project is being organized by China Three Gorges Corporation, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Silk Board Fund. With the help of this project, electricity is being made cheaper in the country. At the same time, one protester said that we should demonstrate towards the Kohala project and it is necessary to continue it till it can be stopped.
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