MANSEHRA, May 25: People of Mansehra would be supplied drinking water from Kunhar river and the project in this regard would be started in coming July with the financial assistance of government of Japan, said Provincial Minister for Food Shuja Salim Khan while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Major Ayub Road here on Friday.

“I am well aware of the fact that people of Mansehra city and its adjoining areas have been drinking unhygienic water for last 20 years. But now they would be provided potable water from Kunhar river with the financial assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency,” he said.

He said that the provincial government would earmark its share for the water scheme in the upcoming budget.

“Work on this project would be initiated from next financial year, most probably in mid July,” said the minister. He said that had a handful of people not created hurdles the issue of provision of potable water would have been addressed much earlier, as the previous provincial government had sanctioned Rs86 million for provision of water from Hazeera area.

He said that the provincial government had built four colleges and 48 high schools in Mansehra city and its adjoining areas.

He said that work on a modern ‘Mansehra public school’ in public sector would be started soon. He claimed that this school would of the standard of Abbottabad Public School and Army Burn Hall College.

ROAD MISHAP: One person was killed and two others sustained injuries when a passenger pickup fell into a ravine in Torghar on Friday.

Sources said that the pickup was on way to Darband from Judbah when its driver lost control while negotiating a sharp turn and it fell into a ravine.

They said that the driver, identified as Khan Baz, died on the spot, while Naseeb Khan and Mehmood received serious injuries. They were taken to a local hospital.