DIZG (YARKHUN): An agreement on a solarization project worth over Rs3.5 million has been reached between the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) and Faizia Development Organization (FDO) of Dizg village in Upper Chitral.
The project will augment community efforts for tree plantation along the River Yarkhun and the passageway of Dizg Gol (stream) to check flooding into the village area, according to Piyar Ali Khan, the chairman of the Faizia Development Organization (FDO).
Khan told ChitralToday that of the total cost of the solarization project, the AKRSP will provide about Rs2.99 million and the remaining amount would be arranged by the community through he FDO. Under the solarization project for tree plantation on a barren land near Noghpheli, water will be drawn from the river that would also benefit 16 households near the project site in the mohallah.
In this regard, a dialogue was held between AKRSP officials led by its Upper Chitral Manager Attaullah and FDO Chairman Pyar Ali Khan in Dizg on February 24, 2025. The community members have already planted saplings in the barren land but their efforts to expand the plantation was hampered due to shortage of water. The funding and technical expertise by AKRSP for the solarization project has been appreciated by the local people.
The residents of Dizg also told ChitralToday that last year the AKRSP had provided funds to restore a water channel from Dizg Gol that was washed away by flash flooding depriving inhabitants of Pongodur of irrigation water.
The NGO also provided funds for supply of water as well as saplings of willow to turn a vast track of barren land near Noghpheli into a forest. The landowners made desperate efforts to take care of the plants, thereby making the arid and dry land into a green patch, consisting of willow plants and fodder crop during the very first two years.
Meanwhile, the local residents called upon the authorities of the AKRSP to set up a computer center for students of Dizg who at present have to travel to Brep due the absence of such a center in their village.