Elders from floods affected district Charssada have asked the government for construction of protection walls near banks of Swat River to save hundreds of acres cultivatable lands in the area, saying that the erosion has been started from shabqadar, which will cut off road link between Charssada to Peshawar.
Speaking at a news conference, here on Tuesday, founder of Floods affectees movement, Jawad Jalal Khan said that the hundreds of acres farmlands would cause damages, if no prompt protective measures were taken to stop breaching of Dowaba canal. Flanked by Pervez Khan, Habibullah Khan, Hujat Khan and Wali Khan, he said that the shahqadar, Matta, Sadar garhi, Bella, Katozai, Hassanzai, and Saddaryab are the most vulnerable areas, saying that erosion has been started from shabqadar and Charssada.
He stressed for timely precautionary measures to save massive level agricultural losses, which also cause food security and shortage problem in the province. He called for waiving off agri-loans and interest to flood affected farmers, who had lost their cultivable lands in devastated floods in the province. Jalal also demanded for waiver off electricity and gas bills of flood hit farmers and called for extending financial support to them.
Habibullah Khan said that the Swat river water is about 3 to 4 feet away Dowaba canal, which could cause massive agricultural destruction in district Charssada. He asked the government to allocate Rs 20 to 30 million on emergency basis to construct protection walls near the canal.
He said that about 25,000 acres farmlands will affect from submerging of canal water in different areas of district Charssada. He said that the devastated floods had completely washed away standing crops, saying that if government would fail to take safety steps, then same situation will again prevail in the area.
Explaining the post flood scenario, he said that the government didn't provide any relief on agricultural input and financial assistance. "We don't want to face past hapless situation in the area, will urge the government to take prompt steps to tackle it as early as possible," he demanded.
Wali Khan said that the WAPDA had charged huge utility bills despite suspension of electricity since devastating floods in the area, saying that the floods also washed away electricity meters and cable. Jalal Khan called for provision of shelter facility to tenants instead of dislodging them from the areas, saying that they are not in a position to construct their houses owing to poor financial condition.