24 May 2004	Monday	04 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

PESHAWAR, May 23: Federal Minister for Water and Power, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, has said that the Munda dam will enable the NWFP to utilize 70 per cent of its water for the uplift of the people. And its early completion "will lessen the misuse of NWFP's water share" which it had acquired through the Water Apportionment Accord.

"The province will annually receive Rs360 million as royalty from the Munda dam," he added. Speaking at a public meeting on the premises of Shabqadar grid station, some 25kms northeast of Peshawar, where he inaugurated the installation of 20-26 KV power transformer, Mr Sherpao said that due to lack of any mechanism, proper utilization of water was not possible.

"But," he added, "the Munda dam project would lay the foundation for the provision of an efficient system through which to use water to the optimum." MPA Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao, former MNA Hamid Khan and ex-MPA Javed Iqbal were also present on the occasion.

Mr Sherpao assured that efforts were being made to utilize the remaining 30 per cent water in an efficient way for the greater advantage of the masses.He lashed out at certain elements who, he said, had been using the issue of provincial rights as a political gimmick, adding that these people were not sincere to the cause of the province.

The minister said that the launching of the Munda dam was part of the provincial rights' list and people would get due benefits on its completion. He said that the difference between his politics and that of the rival groups' was that the former believed in practical work while the latter relied on paperwork.

He contended that the dam would meet the electricity needs of the province. He said that the project would not only address the problem of unemployment but also resolve the irrigation issues of Doaba and Shabqadar people.

He added that the Munda dam was an important project after the formation of the Gagyani Platoon in the Frontier Constabulary as the latter had not only addressed the unemployment problem to some extent but had also provided identity to the tribe in the upper echelons of government.

He assured the people that Sui gas would soon be supplied to Doaba, Shulgara and Shabqadar areas. He said that Ghalanai Grid Station would shortly be commissioned.