BAJAUR: The local body members on Friday demanded the launch of a damage assessment survey of the houses affected by the recent heavy rains in Bajaur tribal district.

They made the demand during a meeting with deputy commissioner Mohammad Anwarul Haq, according to a statement issued here.

Officials of the district administration and the assistant director local government were also in attendance. The local government representatives led by Khar tehsil council chairman Haji Said Badshah briefed the officials about the losses caused by the rains.

They said the provincial government had announced to provide compensation to the rain-hit people, but the district administration had yet to launch a damage-assessment survey.

DC Haq assured the local body members to take up the matter of launching a damage-assessment survey with the provincial authorities.

POPPY DESTROYED: The police destroyed poppy crop cultivated over 50 kanals of land in the hilly Barang tehsil the other day.

A statement issued from the office of district police officer said a joint team of police, the district administration and local elders headed by DSP Abdul Aziz Khan destroyed the poppy in Tar Sparay area.

The growers, who had earlier refused to destroy the crop willingly, opted to support the action after they were informed about its disadvantages.

The statement added it was the second time during the current month that the police had destroyed poppy in Barang tehsil, adding the banned crop cultivated on a vast area in remote Asil Targaoo village was destroyed on April 7.

Meanwhile, the district administration said operation against poppy crop was launched on the directives of the provincial government.

A statement issued from the deputy commissioner’s office said the decision to crack down on poppy was taken at a meeting held recently. The meeting was chaired by deputy commissioner Mohammad Anwarul Haq.

Mr Haq had told the meeting that as per the directives of the home and tribal affairs department, a comprehensive action would be launched against the illegal poppy crop mostly cultivated in Barang tehsil.

He said poppy had been cultivated over 1,200 acres of land in the tehsil.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2024