MANSEHRA: Parliamentary secretary for water resources Salah Mohammad Khan has announced the early start of work on the Rs680 million Mundi-Ramgalli Road to be built under the provincial government’s tourism promotion strategy.

“This [road’s construction] is a mega project for which tendering has been completed and work will begin shortly after the completion of formalities,” the MNA told reporters here on Saturday.He said the 22km road meant to link mountainous parts of Siren valley with Battagram district would not only promote tourism but develop the region as well.

“The government has been exploring the province’s tourism potential to earn handsome revenue through attracting nature loves from within and outside the country has also approved such more roads projects in Kaghan valley and execution of some is under way,” he said.

POWER CUTS: The residents and former local government representatives have warned that they will besiege power grid station against the prolonged power cuts and low voltage in Darband and adjoining areas.

“Dozens of our villages and even graveyards had submerged in the Terbala dam but even then, we are denied electricty produced by it,” former nazim of Darband neighbourhood council Sajawal Yusuf told reporters on Saturday.

Accompanied by a group of residents, Mr Yusuf said the Peshawar Electric Supply Company suspended electric supply for more than 12 hour daily in the hot weather.

He also complained about low voltage, which, he said, is damaging electric appliances. Former Darband neighbourhood council naib nazim Said Habib said federal power minister Umer Ayub Khan had approved a grid station for the town to address power cuts but work on it had yet to start.

“The minister [Umer Ayub] should fulfil his commitment without delay otherwise the residents will besiege the Oghi grid station,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2020