PESHAWAR, July 15: The NWFP government is working on a Rs199 million development package for the people of Kala Dhaka in Mansehra district.
A decision to carry out the multi-sectoral development programme under a special package had been taken by the provincial government and the authorities concerned had been directed to design the project, Dawn learnt here on Monday.
Scores of schemes pertaining to the roads, irrigation, sanitation and water sectors would be executed under the programme to compensate the Tarbela Dam’s affected people living in Kala Dhaka.
The funds for the programme would be arranged by the provincial government, sources said.
Of the Rs199 million investment, over Rs110 million would be utilized to improve the road network in the semi-tribal area. Part of the funds would be used to carry out schemes to improve the irrigation network and sanitation system.
The programme is expected to be completed in two years and the NWFP government, according to sources, has sanctioned over Rs45 million in its current Annual Development Programme to execute a part of it. Schemes had to be identified for execution under the programme, sources said.
A provincial development planner said: “The funds would not cover the establishment charges and salaries of the staff.”
The staff for the project management unit, to be established to execute and supervise the programme, would be provided by the Mansehra district government. The district government will arrange funds to pay their salaries.
This, said the sources, might cause financial problems for the district government, which got a “limited and specific amount” from the province to meet its requirements.
The programme would come in addition to over Rs219 million recently released by the NWFP, Sindh and the Water and Power Development Authority for distribution among over 1,700 families that had vacated agriculture land for the execution of the Tarbela Dam project.
Part of the funds would be distributed among the inhabitants of Kala Dhaka affected by the project.