Chitral elders say dykes construction project ill-timed

CHITRAL: The elders and local government representatives on Wednesday asked the federal and provincial governments to cancel the tender for the construction of protection wall and channelization of the Ayun stream being executed by the consultant firm.

“Starting construction work on protection wall along the Ayun stream and its channelization at this time is not a good idea, which will waste the money and time of the government and the residents,” Wajihuddin and Muhammad Rahman told a press conference here at Chitral Press Club.

Elders from Ayun and Kalash Valley, including Khairul Azam, Abdul Majid Qureshi, Muheeb, Abdur Rahim and others were also present on the occasion.They said that a huge loan was taken from the Asian Development Bank but the money was being wasted on the project due to the possible use of substandard material in the construction of protection wall and untimely channelization of the stream.

The construction work of dykes to protect the residents of Ayun and Kalash Valley from flooding in Ayun stream is a waste of time and money, Wajihuddin said, adding that the government should have started work on the project in January last, which was the best season for such schemes in the area.

They demanded the government to remove the resident engineer of the project for his alleged unbecoming attitude towards the residents.They asked the government to cancel the tender and start work on the project in the next season.Dykes or protection walls are constructed to prevent flood damage and river bank erosion.