HARIPUR, Oct 16: The work on the Khanpur seepage water channel was inaugurated by the NWFP Minister for Sports and culture Raja Faisal Zaman here on Saturday.

The project, which would he completed with a cost of Rs 4.2 million, was being built to divert 30 cusecs of seepage water from Khanpur dam.

A vast area of orchards and land of over 12 villages of Panj Katha area of Khanpur was expected to benefit from the channel.

Speaking on the occasion, the provincial minister said that the provincial government was committed to address the problems faced by rural communities.

He said the people of Khanpur area had rendered sacrifices of their fertile land and graves of their ancestors for Khanpur dam, but they were deprived of their right of water from the Khanpur dam.

He said that the provincial government would utilize its efforts for securing the rights of people of Khanpur.

Speaking about the achievements of the government pertaining to uplift schemes, he told the gathering that during the last six months the MMA had upgraded nine middle schools to the status of high schools and established a number of girls schools in PF 49 alone.

He said that road carpeting projects in different areas of his constituency were under way.

District Nazim Haripur Dr Raja Amer Zaman in his speech said that projects worth Rs 1.5 billion by district government were under way in Haripur.

He criticized the Khanpur authorities for curtailing the fixed share of people of Khanpur from the dam, adding that 56 cusecs of water from Khanpur dam was guaranteed to the people but presently they were getting very small quantity and the orchards had been destroyed.

He told the gathering that for securing the guaranteed rights of Khanpur under Rawaj-i-Aabpashi he would seek relief from Supreme Court.