MANSEHRA: The district administration here has sealed six hotels in Balakot and its suburbs for polluting the Kunhar River by dropping their sewerage and drainage lines in it.

“We have launched an operation against the business entities polluting the Kunhar River, which originates from the glaciers melting in upper parts of Kaghan valley,” deputy commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan told mediapersons here on Saturday.

He said that the operation was part of the third phase of the ‘Clean and Green Pakistan’ initiative in Kaghan valley.

“In the first stage, we had pulled down hotels and other buildings and illegal structures coming in the way of Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road and from Balakot to Babusar Top,” he said.

Mansehra DC says taking steps for preserving beauty of Kaghan valley

The deputy commissioner said that the administration had earlier served the hoteliers and other business entities with notices.

He said the administration had been working on a comprehensive strategy to preserve the natural beauty of Kaghan valley.

He said that a plan was also evolved to keep the Saiful Muluk national park free of pollution as hotels and business outlets were being relocated to a place about one kilometre from the lake’s water reservoir.

DR RAJPUT DIES OF COVID: Dr Ijaz Rabbani Rajput, who had contested the National Assembly elections on Pakistan Peoples Party ticket, has died of coronavirus.

“Dr Ijaz was put on the ventilator following his condition deteriorated and he succumbed to the Covid-19,” Dr Iftikhar Zaidi, younger brother of Dr Ijaz, told mediapersons here on Saturday.

He said Dr Ijaz was hospitalised at a private health facility in Islamabad last month after he tested positive for the virus where he died.

BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT: The Communication and Works Department has started execution of the project for beautification of the city and its suburbs with Rs110 million funds.

“The roadsides in the city and its suburbs and all chowks will be decorated with the traditional monumental structures,” Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf district general secretary Taimur Saleem Swati told a meeting attended among others by traders and officials of the C&W department here on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2021