Govt fails to release funds for rehabilitation projects

CHITRAL: People of Upper Chitral have expressed their dismay over failure of the government to rehabilitate irrigation and water supply infrastructure as well as roads and bridges which had been swept away by flash floods in 2015.

Tahaffuz-i-Huqooq Upper Chitral general secretary Muhammad Pervez Lal said the chief minister had assured the local leaders during his visit to the district in August last of the rehabilitation work but it could not be started as yet.

He said work on the rehabilitation of many of the projects could only be carried out during the winter season.

He said funds should be released immediately to build flood protection walls in order to save the roads and villages, as these would be vulnerable to floods in the coming summer.

A source in the district administration told this correspondent that a demand for Rs390 million had been made to the chief minister during his visit to the district for the rehabilitation work in the communication, irrigation and water supply sectors.

He said the irrigation sector was the worst affected by the flood which required Rs342.91 million for rehabilitation as head works of several irrigation channels were washed away thereby badly affecting farmers in the district.

He said Rs33.6 million had been demanded for rehabilitation of roads and bridges besides Rs14.36 million for drinking water supply schemes.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2021