TIMERGARA, Oct 8: Residents of Soghalay Talash on Monday complained that work on a scheme of water supply to their village had yet to begin despite its approval more than five years ago and allocation of over Rs15 million for it by the government.

More than a dozen villagers led by Abdul Karim told reporters here that they contacted the relevant water supply, sanitation and administration officials and even met local MPA Mahmood Zeb Khan, but to no avail.

They said delay in start of work on the scheme had been denying water supply to local villagers, who had to cover long distances for fetching water.

“We don’t know why this scheme is yet to be executed,” Mr Karim said.

He demanded that the Lower Dir district coordination officer order start of work on the scheme without delay.

Also in the day, residents of Nagri Payeen Talash demanded restoration of water supply to their area.

They said water supply to their area had been suspended for 20 days due to fault in machinery.

“We’ve been struggling to get water since as the relevant officials have been no help,” a resident said. They threatened to agitate if water supply was not restored without delay.

AWARENESS ABOUT THALASSAEMIA: Speakers at a function here on Monday stressed the need for better public awareness of thalassaemia, saying it will help contain high incidence of the monogenic disease in the country.

Khewendo Khor, a nongovernmental organisation, arranged the function at the DCO office, where thalassaemia patients, their parents, doctors, social workers and the relevant government officials were in attendance.

Dir Lower DCO Mahmood Aslam Wazir was the chief guest on the occasion.

Doctors said thalassaemia could be treated by bone marrow transplantation.

They said thalassaemia was a blood-inherited disorder, which children contracted from parents.

According to them, the disorder adversely affects the function of hemoglobin to carry oxygen to cells in the human body.

Dr Fazal Rahim of DHQ Hospital said an isolated ward had been established for thalassaemia patients at the hospital. He, however, said most thalassaemia patients had to go to Peshawar for treatment as the hospital lacked proper facilities to treat them.

The DCO said the district administration would ensure by all means thalassaemia treatment at DHQ Hospital.

He appreciated the role of NGOs and Thalassaemia Society for public awareness and treatment of the monogenic disease. He said blood donation camps would be set up in Lower Dir to collect blood for thalassaemia sufferers.—Correspondent