April 28, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 21, 1429

ABBOTTABAD, April 27: MNA and Member of National Assembly Standing Committee on Environment Mahboobullah Jan has said that construction of small hydel power generation units on the Indus River and its tributaries in Kohistan district, instead of building Diamer-Bhasha Dam, would help overcome the power crisis in the country.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, he added that construction of these units would generate power four times more as compared to 4000 MW of electricity generated from the proposed Diamer-Basha Dam.

Mr Jan said that a feasibility study to build hydel power units on the Indus River was underway with the help of the Norway government. He demanded of the ministry of water and power to consider the projects to tackle the power crisis on war footing.

He said that presently at least 50 small hydel power units were working in the Kohistan district, but regretted that the Small Hydel Development Organisation (Shydo) had miserably failed to run two of its projects in the area which were constructed by the Kohistan Development Board in early eighties.

Replying to a question about the construction of the Diamer-Basha Dam for which the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank had allocated funds, the MNA said under an agreement, which would be reached with the federal government soon, the people of Kohistan district would demand free of cost power supply and reasonable prices for the land to be used to build the reservoir in addition to fixed quota in the employment.

Talking about tourism, Mr Jan said that Kohistan region had some unique tourist spots, like the Sput Valley, and there were at least 18 natural lakes and the largest area covered under some 30 feet of snow which could be developed into tourist resorts.

To boost the agri produce in the district, the minister said that at least 80 per cent area was unutilised which could be converted into fruit farms. He added that finest quality of apples could be produced in the area due to its suitable climate.

Mr Jan demanded of the government to lift ban on cutting of forests as according to him the ban had led to illegal felling of trees and revenue loss for the government. He maintained that according to the forest rules, every fifth tree could be chopped which would have no effect on the growth of other trees.