MARDAN, Aug 6: The district government has approved the construction of a number of bridges in Mardan and work on the projects will start soon. Addressing a ceremony held here to mark the first anniversary of the Hoti Bridge disaster that killed 44 people, Mardan Nazim Himayatullah Mayar said it was a cruel joke that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had announced Rs50 million as compensation for the local flood victims during his visit to the district, but later declared that the fund was meant for the entire province.

He urged the Mardan Islahi Jirga and locals not to block the reconstruction work in the area. The jirga had stopped the work alleging that it was not being done according to the standard specifications and that substandard material was being used by contractors.

The ceremony was organised by the Mardan Islahi Jirga. A large number of people and political workers were present on the occasion. ANP leader Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti also spoke on this occasion.

A portion of the Hoti Bridge in Mardan was washed away by a massive flood on Aug 5 last year, killing dozens of people. The flood had also destroyed five other bridges, Baricham, Sabzi Mnadi, Mardan Khas, Baghdada and Par Hoti. The loss from the disaster was estimated at Rs2.2 billion.—Correspondent