PESHAWAR, July 12: The work on multi-billion rupee foreign funded Malakand  Rural Development Project (MRDP) has  begun, according to an official handout issued here on Thursday.

With the estimated cost of Rs 3.8 billion and to be completed in three years, the MRDP involves major funding by the international donor agencies including 64.99 per cent by the Asian Development Bank (ADP). The government of NWFP would provide 19.19 per cent of the total cost which will include works to be undertaken for the socio-economic uplift of the people of Swat, Buner and Shangla districts. The project, according to the handout, would also cover the Malakand agency of the NWFP.

At a meeting held here on Thursday, the NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah issued directives to ensure speedy execution of the project to achieve the desired results at the earliest.

The project includes laying of some 425km road network and rehabilitation of 150km highway, remodelling of 100km farm-to-market road, in addition to constructing of 270km single roads in the project area.

The meeting was informed that survey to execute three major roads i.e., Dargai-Landaki, Khawaza Khela-Besham and Khawaza Khela- Kalam roads had already been completed. However, work on the community managed infrastructure development had already been started.

Installation of tubewells, development of lift irrigation and gravity irrigation schemes as well as digging of wells for irrigation purposes are also part of the project. Besides, spring-based water supply schemes, installation of hand pump for water supply schemes and construction of drainage system are also included in the project. Similarly hydro-power stations would also be installed in the respective districts under this project.

Speaking  on the occasion the governor said  the implementation process must be given priority in accordance with the needs and requirements of the respective people and the entire process. Besides, he said, there should be effective follow up action to ensure sustainability of the schemes as well as to make them purposeful.

As far as the agriculture and the livestock development sector is concerned, the governor said marketing aspect of the produce should be fully concentrated upon to ensure maximum returns for the respective people of their products.

In this connection he also desired that the possibility to further develop bee farming, silk production and development of tea gardens should also be given due importance to generate extra monetary benefits for the respective people.

Talking about the roads development, the governor, however, expressed concern over the slow pace of work and said it must be accelerated at all costs. “We have already lost precious time and there should be no un-necessary delay in the implementation process,” he said.

He especially took serious notice of the difficulties being faced by the people because of the dilapidated condition of the roads in the said areas and said this segment of the project must be taken on priority basis. He also directed the authorities  to include the  reconstruction  and remodelling of Karrakar-Ambella Road of Buner district in the project.

The governor also highlighted the importance of the protection of forests in the area and said that possibility should also be explored to expand the Sui gas supply to the maximum residential areas under the project.

This project, he said, demanded multi-dimensional approach to derive maximum results and all the parties concerned must work hard with the active participation of the stakeholders to achieve the desired results.