Indian attack on Neelum hydropower plant violates international laws: Wapda chairman

Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt. Gen. (retd) Sajjad Ghani has said that India has targeted the hydropower project by disregarding all international laws, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

Speaking to the media at the dam site of the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project located on the Line of Control Wapda Chairman said water reservoirs even were not targeted in the First and Second World Wars.

He said that India not only shelled the dam but also the adjacent civilian population here. 

If the automatic system of the dam site had been damaged in this attack, all the downstream areas including Muzaffarabad could have been submerged, he added. In this case, 0.7 million acre feet of water could have been released.

Wapda Chairman said the political and military leadership has decided that this issue will be raised at all international forums.

He said this is an act of war and it is not acceptable for Pakistan, its government and people. 

The extent of the damage is being estimated and how long it will take to repair it and the hydro project is currently closed, Wapda Chairman said.

This area is three to four kilometers away from the LoC and the shelling stopped due to the timely response of the Pakistani forces.