MANSEHRA: Federal minister for water resources Faisal Vawda has assured the families affected by Dasu hydropower project of the resolution of their issues by the middle of the current month.

The assurance came as a committee representing the project-affected families met the minister in Islamabad on Wednesday.

A news release issued by committee here said Mr Vawda said the federal government was in contact with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for the early acquisition of land for the dam.

“The water resources minister told our committee that all outstanding issues about Dasu project, including land price, would be settled before Jan 15,” it said.

The release also quoted the minister as saying the government wants speedy execution of the mega hydropower project for meeting the country’s energy needs.

The 4300-megawatt Dasu project is being executed in Upper Kohistan district.

DEMARCATION: The Survey of Pakistan has begun building pillars to separate forests from the agricultural and other land in Mansehra district.

“Besides offering other advantages, the construction of concrete pillars will also help check deforestation in the district,” chief conservator of Hazara region Javed Arshad told reporters after visiting the construction sites here on Thursday.

Mr Arshad said the government wanted to preserve forest areas by checking the illegal removal of trees and therefore, demarcation pillars were being put up around forests.

“These pillars will be built around government forests everywhere,” he said.

The chief conservator said the Survey of Pakistan would also identify all areas of government forests.

He said the effective surveillance system helped curtail deforestation in Hazara region.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2019