MANSEHRA: Local MPA Akram Ghazi on Tuesday said he would speak to the chief minister to ensure that Tarbela Dam’s royalty meant for Darband would be spent on its development only.

He told a public meeting that the previous governments spent Tarbela Dam’s royalty for Darband on the development of other parts of the province, but that won’t happen any longer.

“I will seek the CM’s intervention,” he said.

Mr Ghazi said Tarbala Dam project inundated houses, agricultural lands, and even graveyards in Darband and adjoining areas, but the residents continued to be denied their due royalty.

He added that the people lived a miserable life.

The lawmaker said the families affected by the dam should be given a fair share of the revenue generated by fisheries.

Says he will speak to CM about matter

“You have voted for me and my party, so we will ensure effective resolution of your issues,” he said.

Meanwhile, assistant commissioner of Oghi tehsil Saleem Khan has said the Toheed Road was made one way to shift traffic’s burden from within the city to outside.

He told reporters that an anti-encroachment drive was under way to ensure a smooth flow of traffic in Ramazan and other months.

Mr Khan said illegal bus terminals were being removed, and those challenging the writ of the government would be dealt with strictly.

SOLAR STREET LIGHTS: Solar-powered street lights will be installed in Mansehra city and its suburbs at a cost of Rs100 million, said provincial deputy president of the PTI Kamal Saleem Swati on Tuesday.

“We [government] have developed a comprehensive strategy to address civic problems in our city and its suburbs and will install a solar electricity lighting system shortly,” Mr Swati told a meeting.

The participants included chairmen of village and neighbourhood councils.

He said the tehsil municipal administration would supply drinking water by bowsers in areas hit by water shortages in Ramazan.

“Rusted and broken water lines will be replaced, and other developments will be carried out with the help of funds approved by Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Babar Saleem Swati,” he said.

He said the newly-elected government would address the core issues of local bodies in the province, including Hazara Division.

General secretary of Chairmen Ittehad Basharat Ali Swati, who was also in attendance, highlighted issues of local body heads and complained about the denial of the rights and powers, including development and salary budget, declared in the Local Government Act (Amendment), 2013.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2024