SC issues notice to KPAG in Khanpur Dam pollution case
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a suo motu case concerning the supply of contaminated water from Khanpur Dam, which serves as the main drinking water source for over five million people in Islamabad and adjoining areas.
A constitutional bench heard the case on Monday, where WAPDA’s counsel, Ahsan Raza, informed the court that unchecked boating and commercial activity were contributing to rising pollution levels in the reservoir.
Read More: ECC allows Wapda to float Eurobonds
He said the number of boats operating in the dam had surged from 20 to 326, while six private resorts had also been established around the site.
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail remarked that the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department should frame clear regulations to address the issue, while Justice Shakeel Ahmad observed that the dam’s management had the authority to restrict motorboat operations if they were harming water quality.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq questioned how the boats were allowed to operate without proper permission, while Justice Mandokhail asked about WAPDA’s role in stopping unregulated boating. The counsel replied that a complaint had been lodged with a magistrate but conditions had deteriorated since Khanpur was declared a tehsil.
Justice Aminuddin Khan inquired whether any cleaner alternatives were available to mitigate pollution. The counsel suggested that electric boats could be introduced as an environmentally safe option to replace fuel-powered vessels.
The bench later issued a notice to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advocate General and adjourned the case for an indefinite period.
