TIMERGARA: The Lower Dir administration on Tuesday launched an anti-encroachment drive in Timergara city and demolished several kiosks, shops and other illegal structures.

Assistant commissioner, Timergara, Mohammad Ayaz is supervising the drive in the city along with TMO Attaullah Khan, tehsil nazim Mohammad Riaz, NHA inspector Zafar Ali and sanitation inspector Lateef Khan.

The team removed illegal vehicle stands, roadside kiosks, shops and other structures between Timergara Jail Chowk and Sabzi Mandi. Heavy machinery was used during the operation. Choked drains were also cleared near the district jail.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr Ayaz said that people had occupied land over five culverts from Timergara jail to Sabzi Mandi which were opened. He said that the National Highway Authority had started work on reconstruction of Timergara road for which opening of culverts was essential.

He said that the campaign would continue till removal of all encroachments from the city.

COUNCIL BUDGET: The Ziarat Talash village council on Tuesday passed Rs3.5 million budget for the ongoing fiscal during a meeting of the councillors with its vice-chairman Mohammad Hayat in the chair.

The council chairman, Mohammad Yousaf, presented the budget which was passed unanimously after a brief discussion.

He said that Rs500,000 had been set aside for non-developmental expenses of the council.

He said that Rs2 million would be spent on paving streets, Rs600,000 on water and sanitation and Rs400,000 on construction of boundary walls of graveyards.

Meanwhile, Senator Ahmad Hassan Khan of PPP on Tuesday approved 19 power transformers for different villages in Talash. His political adviser Ahmad Shah told mediapersons that Mr Hassan had approved one 200KV transformer each for Ajoo, Tangay, Bajauro, Kalpani Bazaar, Ziarat, Gumbat, Kano Shah and Bagh Dushkhel; one 100KV transformer each for Nagri Payeen, Goru, Bandagai, Chino, Gumbaty, Chinar, Banrr and Bagh; and one 50KV transformer each for Sarai Bala, Barikot, and Bagh village in Talash valley.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2016