MUZAFFARABAD, June 30: The NWFP government has agreed to improve the condition of the road linking Mansehra district with Muzaffarabad, acting prime minister of AJK, Syed Mumtaz Ali Gillani, said on Sunday.

The acting premier told a news conference that he had recently met the NWFP governor to draw his attention towards the dilapidated condition of the road and call upon him to improve it.

The governor announced that his government would improve the road from Attar Shisha to Brarkot through Batrasi hills at a cost of Rs17.6 million, Mr Gillani said.

The Brarkot village marks the border between Azad Kashmir and Frontier.

He said the AJK government would spend Rs8 million for the improvement of the road from Brarkot to here.

Mr Gillani, who holds the portfolio of works, asserted that the Muslim Conference government was emphasizing construction and improvement of roads.

He said Rs820 million had been earmarked in the new fiscal year for the purpose.

Bridges would be constructed on River Jhelum in Muzaffarabad, Dhan Galli and Dhalkot, he said.

He alleged that the previous government could not prepare the feasibility study of the greater water supply scheme’s second phase in five years.

However, the present government, he said, had included an interim scheme of Rs150 million in the annual development programme to combat water shortage in the capital. The scheme would be implemented in three years, he said.

The acting premier, however, could not satisfy the reporters about the non-implementation of his commitment at a meeting of citizens that the Development Authority Muzaffarabad would be restrained from “interfering in the development affairs in the city.”

“I admit that the DAM should not have any role in the affairs within the municipal limits, but I cannot stop the authority merely with an executive order. This needs change in the Act through legislation,” he said.

He said he wanted to take action against the DAM staff, “but then the press starts writing against the government.” He told a questioner that there would be no downsizing.

In response to a question, he said the naval cadet college would be built in Muzaffarabad, as per the announcement of the former naval chief.

He said Rs50 million had been allocated for the acquisition of land for official purposes, but he could not specify how much of it had been reserved for purchase of land for the college.