Flood-hit villagers seek steps against further devastation

Gul Hamaad Farooqi

BREP (UPPER CHITRAL): Hundreds of people from Brep and nearby areas held a protest rally for the second time in a week demanding rehabilitation of the flood-hit village and steps to protect them from further devastation.

The gathering was presided over by former councilor Shelly Sultan while chairman Ahmed Khan of Village Council Khuz was the guest of honour.

During the protest, there was also a complete shutter-down strike in Brep Bazaar while the main road of Yarkhun and Broghul was blocked for several hours.

Addressing the meeting, the speakers said on August 19, 2022, GLOF from a glacier located in the hill above Brep burst as a result of which a disastrous flood started. Some 60 houses were completely damaged  while hundreds of acres of apple and other fruit orchards, standing crops, cultivated land were destroyed and many people were left homeless.

As a result of the flood, the only utility store, a mosque and three congregation halls (Jamat Khanas) were also washed away. While many shops, a women’s shopping center and girls’ high school and other government and non-government buildings were damaged.

Speakers said after the flood the then Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mehmood Khan visited Chitral and announced Rs500 million for the affected areas, including Rs250 million  for Upper Chitral and Rs25 million for Lower Chitral. They said that  local people kept waiting for the package but so far the cash compensation had not been paid.

They said Regional Program Manager of Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) Ameer Muhammad and his team also visited this area and said that these glaciers had a special type of fruiting plant that prevents the ice from melting, but goats during grazing eat the same species (plant) leading to the glacier melting.

They said Mr Amir Muhammad had assured the people that if they sold off their goats and livestock, his organization (AKAH) will build a protective wall for them in Chikan Gol nullah, which will keep the area safe.

“We sold our goats and other animals on half price and faced huge losses.  But very sorry to say that after nine months Amir Muhammad came and said that in the year 2023 the protection wall of the Chikan Gol canal was not included in the our scheme.”

The speakers said that the second time AKAH Regional Program Manager visited the flooded area with Canadian embassy delegates and officials. The Canadian diplomat announced Rs250 million as an aid. When that grant money was not released, the locals again contacted Amir Muhammad and asked about it. But his answer was that the amount was not only for Brep but for the whole Chitral. But we have not received our share yet.

A unanimous resolution was passed at the meeting which demanded channelization of Chicken Gol, restoration of the utility store, supply of wheat in the godown, maintenance of irrigation canals, appointment of staff in Government Girls High School and supply of medicines in the Basic Health Unit (BHU).

Farman Nazaar, former postmaster, Muhammad Hazar Khan, Qawat Ali Khan, former president of the local council Mir Rahim, President of Brep Cluster Allah Dad Khan, Ameer Haji, Siraj Nisa and Anbreen Bibi expressed their views.

Later the additional assistant commissioner Mastuj visited the village and assured the people that within three days some of their problems would be resolved.  

When contacted by Chitral Today correspondent, Executive Engineer Public Health  Engineering  Department Arshad Iqbal  said PC-1 had been approved rebuild a damaged water tank in Brep but due to lack of funds work on it could not started.

On the assurance of the additional assistant commissioner, the protesters decided to postpone their strike for three days and opened the road and shops and  dispersed peacefully.

It is worth mentioning here that Brep’s apples are very famous and former president General Ziaul Haq used to send helicopters from GHQ Rawalpindi specifically to bring these apples. He also used to send the apples form Brep as gifts to his domestic and foreign friends including Lady Diana. But since 2005, there has been continuous flooding due to melting devastating the village. Surprisingly, this affected area is not included in the golf project.