Work on river protection wall at Junali Koch begins

CHITRAL, April 6:  Work on the construction of a wall and bund to protect Junali Koch village against river erosion near Booni was inaugurated on Saturday. The Chitral Integrated Area Development Programme (CIADP) has released about Rs6.9 million for the construction of the spur and protection bund to save 144 households, the irrigation channel, cultivable land and orchards as well as degree colleges for boys and girls in the village. Speaking on the occasion, Asfandiyar Khan, the programme coordinator CIADP, asked the local people to avoid building scattered ponds for hunting of ducks because it caused the diversion of the river. Deputy commissioner Chitral Muhammad Shuaib Jadoon, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the provincial government had earmarked some Rs8 million for the repair of the irrigation channels in the area. He said the government compensated the people of Booni despite the fact that they had encroached on state land. Zafar Parvaz, the chairman BLSO, said they had requested the government organizations but due to lack of fund this case was forwarded to CIADP and they launched the project. He stressed upon the working committee to complete the work on the construction of the protection was as the water level in the river was rising. Later, the DC Chitral also handed over an anesthesia machine and other equipment to Dr Ali Murad of the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Booni.  A large number of people participated in the inaugural ceremony despite heavy downpours.–Gul Hamaad Farooqi  ]]>