MANSEHRA, Sept 23: The flood-affected people of Dubair valley have expressed resentments over the apathy of government, saying the damaged infrastructure in the area hasn’t been reconstructed after passing of two years.
“Though the non-governmental organisations, which had suspended operations in the district following issuance of a decree by a local cleric, have resumed work in the valley yet people are suffering owing to the apathy of government departments,” Amjad Ali, an elder of the area, told a press conference in Kohistan on Sunday.
Flanked by a group of people from various affected union councils of Dubair, he said that flash floods in 2010 washed away Dubair town completely and a portion of Karakoram Highway, disconnecting Kohistan and Gilgit-Baltistan form other parts of the country for almost a month.
“Many schools, basic health units and bridges were swept away by flash floods but even half of them could not be reconstructed, causing inconvenience fort the people of the remote and backward valley,” said Jahanzab, another resident of the area.
He said that it was an encouraging sign that Saibban Development Organisation, which had suspended its activities in the valley following issuance of the decree by a local cleric, resumed its welfare work.“Other NGOs should also follow into the footsteps of Saibban and restart their activities in the valley and other parts of the backward district,” said Gul Sher Khan.
The flood survivors said that before warping up its activities in the district, Saibban had constructed several small bridges to link many villages with each other and installed water turbine to provide electricity to the area.
They also welcomed inauguration of work on a water supply scheme with the estimated cost of Rs5 million by Saibban, saying it would provide potable water to the entire valley.
They demanded of Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti to take effective measures for reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure in the district so that the miseries of the people could be addressed.
They said that people in Dubair valley should be provided with health facilities as they had to take their patients to other parts of Hazara.
“Sometimes the patients die on their way to hospitals,” they added.
