BATTAGRAM: People of Battagram district have complained about faulty meter reading by Pesco officials.

They were speaking at an open kutcheri organised by the district administration here the other day. Deputy commissioner Syed Mohammad Farul Saqlain, Battagram Tehsil Nazim Niaz Mohammad Khan and heads of government departments were present on the occasion.

The participants said the Pesco officials were not recording actual meter reading, and were sending them inflated power bills.

They said the government acquired land for construction of CPEC route from the locals but did not pay them compensation. They pointed out that many people had lost their houses to the CPEC route but were not paid a single penny.

They complained that low quality material was being used in different development works in the district. They also alleged that many development projects were completed only in documents.

The residents said tanks build by the public health engineering department to supply clean drinking water to the residents had started leaking due to substandard work. They also complained about the hotels in the main bazaar draining their waste into the Nendyar River, polluting its water, and sought strict against them.

They said that traffic jams had become a routine in main bazaar as illegal bus stands had been set up at various spots. The people also criticised the food department for failing to check sale of substandard snacks in the market.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2018