MANSEHRA: The people affected by 870MW Suki Kanari hydropower project on Saturday blocked the Kaghan road for several hours, demanding market price of their land acquired for the project being built on Kunhar River in Kaghan valley.

“We are not against the construction of Suki Kanari hydropower project, but want market price of our land and in case of nonpayment accordingly we would forcibly halt work on the project,” Syed Qasim Shah, former federal minster, said while addressing the protesters.

The protesters gathered at Parus area in Kaghan valley and blocked the Balakot-Naran road to traffic.

Block Balakot-Naran road to highlight their demand

“We want the government to protect our rights given to us by the Constitution and pay the market price of our land,” said Mr Shah. He said that the affected landowners wanted market price of their land, employment opportunities for the local people and free supply of electricity to their area.

Mr Shah said that a five-member committee was also formed which would hold talks with the government.

Speaking on the occasion, Bonja village council nazim Mohammad Ishaq said that it was an appropriate time that government should hold talks with the committee otherwise the people would not allow anybody to execute the project. He said that the local people were not taken into confidence before launch of the project and now their land was being acquired at throwaway prices.

He claimed that theirs was commercial land as Kaghan valley was a tourist destination and prices of land here were higher than in other parts of the district.

When contacted, deputy commissioner, Mansehra, Iqbal Hussain said that the land prices, which were yet to be made public, were being finalised according to the market rate. He said that the administration would not allow anybody to take law into his own hands.

HEALTH SERVICES: The emergency department of Civil Hospital in Baffa has started providing round-the-clock services to people, as five more doctors have been appointed at the hospital.

Speaking at a public meeting in Baffa last month, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had announced that shortage of doctors at the civil hospital would be addressed soon. Chairman of health committee, Alamzeb Khan, thanked the CM for filling the vacant posts of doctors at the hospital.

Published in Dawn October 2nd, 2016