Bureau Report PESHAWAR, Sept 14: Chief of his own faction of Pakistan People’s Party Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has demanded immediate restoration of Lower Swat Canal Irrigation System, saying delay in it will cause huge losses to farmers.

The irrigation system had been destroyed during the recent torrential rains and devastating floods. In a press release issued here on Tuesday, he said that the Lower Swat Canal irrigation System was very important for agriculture as it was irrigating at least 135,000 acres of land in Charsadda, Peshawar and Mardan.

He said that Shabqadar area of Charsadda would be the worst affected. Negligence by government could result into huge losses to farmers, he added Mr Sherpao said that the 3,000-meter long water canal system had been constructed in 1885 to grow more crops and improve the local economy. He said that government was duty bound to restore it on war footings and avert the chances of another human disaster in the areas.

He said that being the lifeline for the area, if the irrigation system was not restored timely it would lead to famine.

The PPP-S chief also expressed his concern over delay in rehabilitation of flood victims and said that it was a glaring example of the government’s incompetence.

“By using delaying tactics in payment of cash, the government is creating unrest among the affected people,” he said.

Mr Sherpao said that other provinces had expedited payment of compensation but people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were still forced to wait for it. He demanded of the government to expedite the process otherwise it would cause crisis in the province, making the lives of the masses more miserable.