BATKHELA: The residents of Malakand protected area have threatened to stage a sit-in in front of the Chief Minister House in Peshawar if work on several incomplete projects initiated by the previous ANP-led government was not resumed.

Construction work on several projects, including Gravity Water Supply Scheme worth Rs660 million, Thana-Ramora suspension bridge on Swat River, Mohammad Zaman Khan suspension bridge on Swat River near general bus stand Batkhela and construction of community hall at Zafar Park, has been stopped for the last over one year, they complained that these projects were approved by the previous government, but after formation of the present government the work on these projects was stopped and its funds were diverted to others districts in the province. They said that after lapse of over one year work on these projects was yet to be resumed.

The contractors also complained of huge financial losses due to delay of work on the projects. Work on community hall at Zafar Park was initiated in 2011 and it was scheduled to be completed in 2013.

They alleged that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had shifted the funds to his local constituency.

Threaten sit-in in front of CM House if work not resumed

that the company had started construction work on the community hall in August 2011. He said the first two installments of Rs30 million were paid to the company, but rest of the amount was withheld by the Batkhela Municipal Committee for unknown reasons.

He said that they had no other option but to stop work on the project due to unavailability of funds.

He said that due to suspension of work the steel bars, cement bags and other construction material were being wasted.

Mr Shah said that the present government in its budget for fiscal 2014-15 again approved funds for completion of the project, but the amount was yet to be released.

that all funds meant for developmental projects in Malakand had been released in his tenure as finance minister, but the present government led by PTI failed to utilise the amount properly.

He alleged that the amount released for the purpose was shifted to other districts.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2014