MANSEHRA: Deputy commissioner, Kohistan, Fazl-i-Khaliq has assured the people of Kohistan whose land is being acquired for Diamer-Bhasha dam that the district administration would fix prices of their land in accordance with the formula set by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for such projects.

“We have separate pricing rules for different kinds of land like agricultural, barren and forest, and we would fix prices of your land in accordance with the formula already enforced in the province,” he told a group of landowners who met him in his office on Sunday.

Led by MPA Abdul Sattar Khan, the landowners expressed reservations about the land pricing during the meeting. The DC said that he had summoned a meeting of all stakeholders, including Wapda, revenue department and landowners, on July 26 to announce the pricing formula.

In response to a complaint raised by landowners that payments were being delayed, Mr Khaliq said that until an agreement was reached between the landowners and Wapda payments could not be made. He said that the district administration would start payments after signing of the agreement.

He said that local people should extend cooperation to the survey teams present in Kohistan. He said that Diamer-Bhasha dam would bring development to Kohistan and would put the district on way to real progress.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sattar said that people wanted market prices of their land and the revenue department should immediately end survey so that payments of land being acquired for the dam could be made.

“The local people would cooperate with the district administration and Wapda in every respect as this mega project will ensure prosperity and development in the district,” said Mr Sattar.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2016