MANSEHRA: The federal government has released Rs500 million for the construction of a 132kv grid station in the Gandia area to address loadshedding and low voltage issues in parts of Mansehra district.

“The main grid station, which is operational in Mansehra is under a tremendous load and the new constructed grid station could not only ease overloading on existing one but also provide uninterrupted electricity supply to both commercial and domestic consumers in the Konsh and Siren valleys,” federal parliamentary secretary for water resources and MNA Salah Mohammad Khan told reporters here on Thursday.

He said he had taken the issues of the excessive loadshedding and low voltage with Prime Minister Imran Khan in a meeting last month and the government released Rs500 million funds on his special directives.

“This grid station would be built in the Gandia area and district administration has started acquiring a suitable piece of 60 kanals land for it,” said Mr Khan.

PLASTIC BAGS: The administration has begun a crackdown on the sale of polythene bags in Mansehra district.

On the directives of deputy commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan, additional assistant commissioner Sundus Arshad Malik paid surprise visits to shops in Barkund area and sealed five of them for selling polythene bags despite ban.

She fined traders for packing goods in polythene bags and warned others against using such bags.

ISSUES: Deputy commissioner of Mansehra district Dr Qasim Ali Khan on Thursday promised the early resolution of issues facing the people of Balakot tehsil.

He was speaking in an open kutcheri in Balakot area on Thursday.

The residents highlighted their problems and complained about a long delay in the New Balakot City project.

The deputy commissioner said he was striving to remove hurdles to the New Balakot City project and the time was not far off when the earthquake survivors would receive plot allotment letters.

The residents also raised the issue of appointment of faculty and other staff to the girls degree college, drinking water and other issues.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2021