Governor Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd) during his one day tour to Bajaur Agency on Tuesday launched a number of development projects which are expected to cost about more than Rs 130 millions.
The projects also include the construction of a small dam at Talay in Salarzai. On reaching at Nawagai by road, the governor was warmly welcomed by the tribal elders.
Later on he laid the foundation stone of a degree college at Zoreband which is the third one of its nature in the agency and is expected to be completed at a cost of Rs 47 millions.
It was told on this occasion that the building of the college would comprise of 15 classrooms, five laboratories as well as a bachelor hostel to accommodate sixteen teachers.
Beside a multi-purpose auditorium would also be constructed as a part of the college. Almost 1,50,000 population of Nawagai will be benefited from this college.
The governor sensing the requirement for the provision of three more degree colleges in the agency advised the concerned authorities to identify the sites for this purpose and in this connection desired that the far flung areas should be given priority.
He also desired to complete a suitable portion of the building at the earliest to enable the government to start the college by June this year.
Later on Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah also launched a land levelling project at Kausar which is expected to cost about Rs 23.5 millions and under this scheme which is scheduled to be completed in five years time, 12,500 acres of land will be made cultivable.
To ensure proper utilisation of this land the governor also desired to work out a scheme for installation of tube wells with the active co-operation of the respective community which would be later on fully handed over to the concerned people.
The governor also performed the earth breaking ceremony of the construction of ten kilometre long first phase of the Khar - Nawagai road; which will be completed in two years time at a cost of Rs 23.7 millions.
Under this project not only a 24 feet wide road will be construct but its unnecessary curves would also be removed. The governor on this occasion also directed to construct new bridges in place of certain old ones.
Meanwhile Syed Iftikhar also performed the earth breaking ceremony of the construction of a small dam at Telay in Salarzai area, which is the second project of its nature amongst the twelve dams planned to be constructed in Fata.
This dam is expected to cost Rs 17.5 millions and will be completed by the end of the current year. Syed Iftikhar was informed on this occasion that the dam with a height of 15 meters; will have the capacity to store 735 acre feet water and will irrigate 275 acres land.
It was further told that the spillway will be constructed to bear the flow of 4000 cosecs of water and it would have a life of 50 years.
It merits mentioning that work on the construction of six dams of similar nature will be taken in hand before June this year and two more dams would also be constructed in Bajaur Agency.
The governor also attended a briefing on this occasion during which the political agent Pirzada Khan informed the governor about the law and order situation as well as pace of work on the ongoing development projects in the agency.
It was told on this occasion that the mine explosions as well as other such like problems have been comprehended and during the last few months no such incident took place.
Governor was further informed that the poppy cultivation has also been eliminated and in this connection legal action has also been taken against certain farmers. As far as development works are concerned, the governor was informed that almost Rs 200 millions were being spent on 14 education related projects in the agency.
Three high schools were being upgraded to higher secondary level in the agency during the current year and staff deficiency has almost been removed.
It was further told that Rs 10 millions were being spent on the establishment of a college of management sciences in the agency.
In his brief remarks on this occasion the governor directed the concerned authorities to expedite the pace of work on the construction of Women Hostel as well as the sports complex in the area.
In the Health Sector Rs 80 millions have been earmarked and work on the establishment of a Leprosy clinic, nursing hostel and two community health centres was in progress.
Beside, provision of staff as well as equipment in the agency and tehsil headquarter hospitals has almost been completed.
The governor was also informed that a target of planting one million plants has been fixed in the agency this year and the plantation campaign will be carried out with the active co-operation of the people. Similarly, Rs 120 millions were being spent on the potable water supply schemes.
The governor while expressing satisfaction over the law and order situation as well as pace of work on the ongoing development projects in the agency stressed the need of seeking maximum co-operation of the people.
He also desired to complete the ongoing projects instead of launching new schemes.
However, he added, new schemes in the education sector could be initiated, if required.
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