Call to remove road construction debris from river
Muhammad Irshadullah
At a meeting held in Booni Upper Chitral, public representatives and community leaders asked for the removal of debris fallen into the Chitral river during the construction of Shandur Road, as the volume of water is very low in the winter.
Tehsil Chairman Sardar Hakim, Village Council Chairman Anwar Wali Khan and others at the meeting discussed the serious issue of debris falling into the river due to blasting during the construction of the Shandur Road. They expressed grave concern over the potential dangers resulting from this issue.
They pointed out that the blasting during the construction of the Shandur Road had resulted in large amounts of debris falling into the Chitral River, causing the flow of water to change direction towards the agricultural lands of the residents of Booni and other areas.
This shift in water flow has placed the region’s agricultural land, orchards and residential properties at significant risk. Local people have repeatedly informed the National Highway Authority (NHA) about the problem, but the relevant authorities have ignored the complaints and continued the practice of dumping debris into the river.
During the meeting, farmers expressed their concerns that if immediate actions were not taken more lands may be swept away by the river, leading to the destruction of the region’s economy.
The participants of the meeting noted that the daily lives and livelihoods of local residents were already at risk, and any further delay could lead to irreparable damages.
They urged the government and relevant authorities to intervene immediately. They called for the construction of protective or a side wall along the riverbank to redirect the flow of water to the other side. They emphasized that such a wall was essential for the protection of the area, and without it, the region would face further damages in the future.
The participants also mentioned the continuous erosion of land along the river in Reshun area, which had already led to the loss of valuable lands. They requested the government to take emergency measures in Reshun as well, to safeguard people’s assets and lands.