KOHAT: The long-awaited Chashmahi Khas Water Supply Scheme in Shakardara area here has been made operational after a gap of 14 years.

The restoration of the scheme was made possible under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur’s Awami Agenda and with the intervention of the National Accountability Bureau’s chairman.

A ceremony to this effect was held here the other day.

MPA Daud Shah Afridi, Director NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ghaziur Rehman, Kohat division commissioner Syed Motasim Billah Shah and Kohat deputy commissioner Abdul Akram attended the ceremony. A number of local elders were also in attendance.

A population of more than 16,000 people will benefit from this project.

It may be recalled that work on the water supply scheme started in 2010, but despite spending millions of rupees, the area people could not get any benefit of it.

However, in light of the recommendations of the committee formed on the advice of the NAB chairman headed by the Kohat deputy commissioner and comprising public health engineering department’s executive engineer, Kohat, the water supply scheme was made functional.

Under this project, drinking water will be provided to the local population through a 16-inch diameter pipeline originating from the Indus River.

The water supply was immediately started for some areas, while the total operationalisation of the scheme would be ensured within two months time.

Upon NAB’s intervention, FIRs have been registered against those who stole the pipes and other equipment.

MPA Daud Shah Afridi, Kohat commissioner and deputy commissioner and the residents of the area thanked the NAB chairman for his timely intervention, which made the important project operational in a short period of time.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2024