CHITRAL: The people of Warijun, Shagram, Khot and Rech villages of upper Chitral’s Torkhow valley on Tuesday complained to deputy commissioner Irshad Sodhar about absence of doctors and lack of diagnostic facilities in the health centres.

They were speaking at open kutcheries held in the four villages by the deputy commissioner, where they also complained about dilapidated condition of the buildings of the centres.

The locals said they had to travel to the district headquarters hospital for availing primary healthcare facilities which were supposed to be available in the rural health centre or basic health unit of the villages.

The residents of Shagram complained about high treatment charges in the rural health centre run by Aga Khan Health Service on public-private partnership basis. They said Rs120 was charged for OPD while the rate of tests was five times greater than fixed by the government.

Inordinate delay in completion of Booni-Torkhow road started 10 years ago and dilapidated condition of roads in Khot, Rech, Melp and Ujnu were also highlighted by the locals.

The people complained that no officer or official of any department bothered to visit Torkhow which affected quality and speed of development works being carried out by the government in different sectors. They also highlighted poor service of a mobile phone company which is only source of communication in the remote area.

The people complained that at the behest of an influential person, the public polo ground in Khot valley was being encroached upon to construct shops there.

They also demanded upgradation of the 40-year-old high school to higher secondary, removal of rotten wheat from the godown of food department, inquiry into substandard construction of water supply scheme and construction of bulwark to protect the village from floods and posting of staff in the veterinary dispensary.

On the occasion, DC Irshad Sodhar ordered the assistant commissioner Mastuj to ensure presence of tehsildar and conduct of camp court of a magistrate in Torkhow every week. He said visit of head of every department to the valley once a month was a must.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2018