KOHAT: Several projects of the Rs800 million beatification programme of the district headquarters, which was to be completed by April 30, 2018, are still incomplete creating problems for the residents.

Of total 29 schemes of the plan launched in 2017 about 18 were completed before April 30 and 11 were still pending, officials said. The streetlights are in a shambles and solar system is yet to be installed in Kotal Township after two years. Many electricity lights have stopped working on Hangu Road for months. Besides, people are still facing acute shortage of drinking water.

The administration had to surrender over Rs140 million in June last to the provincial government as a rule of fiscal policy which would be again released for resumption of work.

The civil society and traders have pointed out that instead of appointing engineers to supervise the development work non-technical monitoring committees, headed by additional assistant commissioners, had been tasked to look after the work which resulted in many shortcomings.

Following a protest by the bazaar unions, deputy commissioner Ilyas Khalid had months ago promised to demolish extended shutters of the shops with the consent of shopkeepers and cover the newly-constructed drain with grills within weeks, but he did not honour his promise.

Secretary general of markzai bazaar union Abid Khan told this scribe that the DC had told them that the grills would be placed within a week, but due to unusual delay they had to put slabs on the drain to facilitate the shoppers to get on to the three feet high shops because their business was being affected.

After a few weeks the administration had started breaking the slabs and started putting grills. At some places these have been fixed with cement, but in major portion of the bazaar the grills have been left loose.

Abid Khan said that the bazaar was in much better shape before the beautification campaign, which had ruined its whole look. It was also alleged that substandard material had been used in construction of the drain.

When contacted, executive district officer, finance, Wahidur Rehman said that the release of revived funds had been delayed due to the general elections and they were awaiting them to start work from where it was stopped.

He said that specialized people should have been appointed to look after roads, streets, highways, levelling of drains and other projects.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2018