SHANGLA: Residents of Dunai area of Shangla have demanded early reconstruction of a bridge over the Khan Khwar River.

Locals of Dunai and Karora areas told reporters on Sunday that a wooden bridge over the river was washed away by floods in 2010.

They said the bridge was temporarily restored by locals on self-help basis, but recent floods destroyed it again.

Sarfaraz Khan, district council member from Ranyal, criticised PML-N local leaders for not reconstructing two damaged bridges in Ranyal union council.

He said adviser to prime minister, Amir Muqam, his brother, MNA Dr Ibad, and son, district nazim Niaz Ahmed had failed to reconstruct the bridge at Dunai.

“MNA Ibad inaugurated Dunai bridge reconstruction two times in the past, but failed to get the work started on the project,” he regretted.

The councillor said despite repeated requests to provincial government officials, district administration and lawmakers reconstruction of the bridges could not be initiated.

Nisar Ahmed, a shopkeeper in Karora bazaar, told Dawn that due to absence of the bridge the people had to walk from Dunai village to Karora.

The locals threatened to launch a protest movement if work on the reconstruction of Dunai bridge was not started at the earliest.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2016