MANSEHRA: A Lower Kohistan jirga on Monday warned that if the reconstruction of the infrastructure destroyed by last year’s flash floods in the district didn’t begin by July 27, the residents would stage street protests.

Chairman of the Bankhaid-Ranowali tehsil council Maulana Fazl Wahab told the jirga in his office that the roads and other infrastructure were washed away after dam authorities released water amid the 2022 flash floods, while a woman and a girl were swept away last week following the opening of the dam’s spillways without any prior alert.

He insisted that the Wapda was delaying implementation of the agreement it signed with locals for their development.

The meeting was attended by chairmen of 12 village councils in Dubair, Ranowali, Jigal and Bankhaid areas and local elders, who unanimously issued a protest warning to the government over a long delay in infrastructure development.

Threatens to stage protests after 27th

They warned if the government didn’t initiate reconstruction, provide relief to flood-hit families and follow the agreement between Wapda and Dubair Khawar dam victims by July 27, they would halt operations of the dam’s powerhouse and block the Karakoram Highway to traffic for an indefinite period.

Maulana Fazl Wahab insisted that last week’s two deaths from dam water happened as the Wapda didn’t fulfil its commitment on infrastructure rebuilding.

On the occasion, former MPA from Lower Kohistan, Sarinzeb Khan said the families of a woman and girl, who were killed by the dam’s water, should be compensated by the Wapda before July 27.

Local body member Juma Shah Jallali said hundreds of families hit by flooding were stranded in parts of Dubair, so authorities should provide them with relief goods and healthcare until roads and other infrastructure were reconstructed.

Meanwhile, former Awami National Party MPA Laiq Mohammad Khan on Monday said after coming to power, his party would ensure the development of Torghar district.

“The ANP government changed the tribal status of Torghar to a settled district and announced a Rs5 billion development package for it in 2011, and if people elect us in the upcoming polls, we will put this highly neglected district on the path of real development,” Mr Khan told a public meeting in Mohgat Hassanzai area.

Mr Khan criticised former PML-N MNA from Torghar retired Captain Safdar Awan over “failure” to address basic issues of Torghar residents and warned if the development projects announced by the ex-lawmaker weren’t executed, he along with residents would take to the streets.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2023