Hydropower Tunnels Could Devastate Swat’s Ecology: Activists

News Desk

Islamabad: Leaders of the Save Swat River Movement have categorically rejected the proposed Madyan Hydropower Project (MHPP), warning that the government’s push for large-scale hydropower in Swat poses a grave threat to the valley’s people, environment, and economy.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club, Islamabad, movement leaders including Zubair Torwali, Inamullah Khan, Sajjad, and Nisar Ahmed denounced the provincial government’s plan, describing it as “a disaster in the making.” They cautioned that such projects, in their current design, would devastate tourism, ecology, forests, aquatic life, and livelihoods in Bahrain Tehsil.

The movement underscored that while citizens support development, they cannot accept projects that “harm people, resources, environment, water, and employment.” They highlighted that four mega hydropower projects—Madyan (207 MW), Asarit Kedam (229 MW), Kalam-Asarit (239 MW), and Gabral-Kalam (88 MW)—would divert the Swat River into nearly 40 kilometers of tunnels, drying up natural springs and amplifying flood risks in an already climate-vulnerable region.

Community leaders also alleged that the people most directly affected—Torwali, Gurjar, and Gawri communities—were never consulted, in violation of the internationally recognized principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). They argued this oversight also breaches the World Bank’s safeguard policies, given the institution’s involvement in energy financing.

“This is not just about power generation; it is about the survival of more than 85,000 people and the preservation of Swat’s natural beauty and resources,” the leaders said, urging authorities to halt or redesign the projects.

Instead of mega dams, the movement demanded investment in “people-friendly” renewable alternatives such as solar and wind power, which they argued would meet energy needs without destroying communities and ecosystems.

The statement marks one of the strongest grassroots challenges yet to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO), putting pressure on policymakers to reconcile energy ambitions with environmental and social safeguards.