SKARDU, April 6: The people have criticised PWD authorities for delay in work on an irrigation project in the Sarfa Ranga area. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Subedar (retd) Mohammad Khan and Subedar-Major (retd) Sher Ali said that the government had approved Rs20 million in the Annual Development Programe for the lift irrigation scheme, but authorities concerned did not take any interest in starting work on the project.

They expressed concern over what they called the inordinate delay and urged the chief secretary of the Northern Areas to order the authorities concerned to start work on the project immediately.

The government had earmarked barren land in the Sarfa Ranga area to rehabilitate refugees migrating from Chulunkha, Toortuk and Tiakshi areas in the 1971 war.

ROYALTY ISSUE: Office-bearers of Baltistan National Movement have extended support to the people of Diamer and said that they were justified in demanding royalty for the Diamer-Bhasha dam.

In a joint statement, chairman Wazir Imtiaz Ahmed; vice-chairman Ali Raza; finance secretary Mohammad Hussain Abdi and members of the movement’s supreme council Mohammad Hassan and Bashir Nono said that they would resist any attempt to harm the interests of the people of Gilgit and Baltistan. The urged the authorities to give royalty of the dam should be given only to the people of the Northern Areas.