DERA ISMAIL KHAN, July 21: The construction of a road leading to the only summer resort in southern districts of the NWFP, Sheikh Buddin, has again been put into cold storage as no funds have been earmarked for the project.

Sheikh Buddin is situated about 60km to the north of Dera Ismail Khan and is about 5,400 feet above sea level. During the British rule, a bridle-way leading to Sheikh Buddin top was normally used to shift office of the Dera Ismail Khan commissioner to the hill station during summer seasons.

The forest department constructed a jeepable road in 1962-63 which it maintained till 1979. Due to non-allocation of funds no repair and maintenance work could be undertaken which was necessary in view of heavy seasonal rains. The rain water has damaged the road to such an extent that it has now been abandoned.

At present, it is not possible to reach the hill top by car or jeep. The only available options are either to walk up to the hill top or a horse ride. Sheikh Buddin is marked by green trees. Its climate is moderate and pleasant in both summer and winter seasons.

The total area of the resort is 44,148 acres, out of which 44 acres are under private ownership while the rest is owned by the provincial government. Of the state land, only 117 acres are available for residential purpose.

A PC-1 for the construction of 13km Pezu-Sheikh Buddin road at a cost of Rs26.01 million was approved by the Housing and Physical Planning Department in 1995-96. The provincial government had allocated Rs16.01 million in the fiscal year of 1997-98 but no construction work was carried out.

A proposal for the development of Sheikh Buddin township was also submitted by the Dera Development Authority (DDA) about ten years ago to the provincial government. Under the proposed DDA scheme, about 1,000 plots of different sizes spreading over an area of 936 kanals would be allotted on a first-come-first-served basis.

The cost of the proposed township was estimated at about Rs160.639 million in 1993-94. The Sheikh Buddin township scheme will help develop the area as a summer resort and promote tourism in this backward and neglected area. It will also provide relief to the heat-stricken people of the area in hot and sultry weather.

Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani during his last visit to Dera Ismail Khan announced the construction of a road to Sheikh Buddin but no concrete step has so far been taken in this regard.