LANDI KOTAL, June 14: While the United States government has promised more funds for the development of tribal areas, construction work on development schemes worth more than Rs20 million are yet to take off in Khyber Agency, despite having been approved in 2001.

The schemes, including primary education institutions for boys and girls, community health centres and water supply schemes, were approved under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme (KPP) for areas in the remote Tihar valley in Khyber Agency in order to bring these at par with the developed areas of the country.

The Khyber Agency political administration, in collaboration with the works department, conducted several surveys of the area and prepared a detailed report about the schemes.

Upon the recommendations of the assistant director rural development (ADRD), Khyber Agency, the political administration approved four girls primary schools worth Rs2.4 million for Zarmenza, Sra Vela, Baragut and Uchay Unay, four boys primary schools worth Rs3.6 million for Khaistha Khwla, Uchay Unay and Kachkol and one middle school for Sra Vela. Another Rs2 million were approved for a water supply scheme in Baagh Kaley.

In order to provide health facilities to the people of these areas, five community health centres worth Rs4.5 million were also approved for Mehraban Kaley, Khaistha khwla, Soor Kas and Uchay Unay. All these areas fall under the jurisdiction of the Jamrud subdivision.

These development projects were widely publicised and tenders floated in the press to attract interested builders back in 2001. Most of these projects were awarded to the blue-eyed contractors of the authorities. But the construction work on these schemes has yet to start.

When approached for comment, ADRD Akhtar Munir cited three reasons for the delay of the construction work.

Firstly, he said, the feasibility reports about these projects were not yet furnished to them by the education, health and public health departments.

Secondly, he complained, land disputes between sub-tribes was hampering the development process as various tribal elders wanted to have the lion share in these schemes in their own areas.

Thirdly, he maintained, the works departments officials refused to carry out such schemes in these areas.

He, however, said they were trying their best to start work on these projects as soon as possible.