Done deal: Administration to acquire land for Suki Kanari project

Agreement signed by Hazara commissioner, project’s executive director.

ABBOTABAD: An agreement for land acquisition was signed between Hazara’s divisional administration and the management of Suki Kanari Hydro Power Project on Monday.

The deal was finalised at the office of the commissioner, Abid Ali Khan, during a meeting attended by Mansehra deputy commissioner Zulfiqar Shah and officials from the power project. Hazara Commissioner Abid Ali Khan and the project’s executive director, Mian Shahabullah Kakakhel, signed the deal on behalf of the provincial government and the project’s authorities.

According to the agreement, the divisional administration will ensure acquisition of 4,418 kanals of land which includes 1,200 kanals of reserved forest land and 30 kanals of the state’s land for the project.

The commissioner and project director discussed how the land acquisition process would take place smoothly. They agreed to transfer property rights of 1,200 kanals of the forest land together with the 30 kanals owned by the provincial government.

The commissioner of Hazara assured all those present that the district administration would extend full cooperation and support throughout the project. He said that once completed, the project would help deal with the energy crisis and create more employment.

Located on Kunhar river in Kaghan valley, the power project has a low cost electricity generation capacity of 870 megawatts.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2014.