MURREE, Aug 3: Pipelines bought to bring water from the Jhelum River to Murree under a Rs4.5 billion project launched by the previous government are rusting under the open sky, as work on the scheme was stopped after the PML-N came to power in the province.

The Neelam-Jhelum Bulk Water Supply Scheme was launched in 2005 and was scheduled to be completed in one year. An amount of Rs4.5 billion was allocated for the project.

The deadline for completion of the project was extended by the PML-Q government but the PML-N did not continue work on it. So far, only about 20 per cent work has been completed on the scheme.

Former Town Nazim Sardar Saleem Khan of the PML-Q said Rs3 billion had already been spent on the project and the PML-N government had planned to shift the pipelines to Wasa Lahore and a scheme in Sahiwal. However, he added, due to severe resistance from the locals, the government could not go ahead with its plan.

Now the pipelines are lying under the open sky at the expressway.

Mr Khan said pumps had been installed for drawing water from the river and Rs75 million were spent on construction of a road from Dhandha to Chapprian under the project. Besides, land was also acquired from the locals.

He said after the change of the government the project remained suspended for two years and now the Punjab government has decided to allocate Rs100 million annually for it which according to him would not be sufficient to complete the work even in five years.

When contacted, MNA Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who is also the chairman of the chief minister's steering committee for the development of Murree, denied the allegation and said under the current tariff of electricity, water from the Neelum-Jhelum project would cost 65 paisa per litre, which would be unaffordable for the poor people of the area.

Mr Abbasi said the present government after reassessing the project had dropped the construction of rest houses and other luxuries in order to reduce the additional burden from the project.

He said a lot of irregularities had been reported in the project during the previous government, which were being investigated. The MNA said the project would be completed in 2011.