PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will lay 20 kilometres long pipeline to provide drinking water to Mingora town and its adjacent localities in Swat.

The proposed project will be executed with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank, according to a statement. Under the project, treatment plant would also be set up to supply treated water.

The statement said that 85 per cent water would be supplied through pure gravity whereas 15 per cent of water would be provided to the areas through solar pumping.

The project has been devised keeping in view the requirements of the city for next 25 years.

CM orders officials to address reservations of landowners

The project was discussed in a meeting here on Monday that was chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan. MNA Dr Haider Ali, MPA Fazal Hakim, Malakand commissioner, Swat deputy commissioner and high ups of relevant departments attended the meeting.

The chief minister directed the officials to take necessary steps to complete acquisition of land for the proposed ‘Mingora Greater Water Supply Project’ and address the genuine reservations of the landowners.

He asked the commissioner of Malakand to visit the proposed site along with the respective public representatives, district administration and authorities of local government and come up with solid proposals in consultation with landowners to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

The chief minister said that grievances of landowners should be addressed on priority basis so that the project could be initiated in an efficient and pleasant manner.

The meeting was informed that the scheme would be completed with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP).

The meeting was also briefed about the progress so far made on establishing colleges in Swat.

Work is in full swing on establishment of government degree colleges Vanai, Shamozai and Bagh Dheri that will be completed within the current financial year.

Similarly, PC-Is for establishment of government degree colleges Saidu Sharif and Charbagh have also been approved by relevant forum whereas tenders of these two projects will be floated soon.

The projects of strengthening Postgraduate College Matta and Government Degree College Madyan will also be completed during the year 2021-22.

The meeting also reviewed the proposed Fateh Pur irrigation channel’s extension and improvement project.

The chief minister directed the quarters concerned to complete the engineering design and PC-I of the extension project as per stipulated timeline and fulfil all the prerequisites for launching work on it.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2021