MANSEHRA, Jan 17: The tribes of Kala Dhaka here have threatened to once again start growing poppy in the provincially administered tribal area if the much-awaited development projects are not executed immediately.

Addressing a joint press conference here on Saturday, elders from main five tribes of Kala Dhaka said that the provincial government with the financial support of the US had launched the Kala Dhaka Development Project (KDDP) to eradicate the poppy cultivation permanently from the area to bring it at par with the developed areas, but since last one year, no developmental scheme could be launched.

The tribesmen included Shaukat Khan of Hassainzai tribe, Peer Pagara of Akazai, Mohammad Latif of Madakhail, Hussein Shah of Nusrat Khail and Mohammad Feroz of Basikhai tribe.

They alleged that the project management was playing in the hands of some influential politicians from the area and was creating hurdles in the way of execution of the Rs170 million project. They added that new tenders for launching the uplift schemes could not be issued to contractors since the suspension of the work.

“The area is neglected since the creation of country, if any foreign government wants to help the poor people of the backward area, why the bureaucracy is crating unjust hurdles in its development,” they questioned.

They said that the KDDP was launched to provide the health and education facilities and build the infrastructure but because of the unjust delay in the execution of these projects, tribes were passing through miserable times.

The tribesmen said that people of the area had no other alternative to earn their living except growing poppy.

They demanded of the NWFP governor and chief minister to intervene to end the injustices that were being committed by the influential politicians for their vested interests and bring to justice those officials who were playing in their hands.

PRICE MONITORING: Hazara region commissioner Syed Jawed Shah has directed heads of government departments to reactivate price control committees to check prices of daily-use items in the market.

Speaking at a meeting of the heads of the government departments here on Saturday, he said hurdles in the way of execution of development schemes should be removed to provide relief to people.

He called upon police to enhance patrolling to maintain law and order and bring criminals to justice.