‘Illegal construction’ scars Kumrat Valley

Unpaved road is the biggest hindrance for tourists

TIMERGARA:

Despite the ban on the construction of buildings in the famous tourist spot of Kumrat Valley in Dir Upper district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by the district administration, illegal constructions are still going on unchecked. These unplanned buildings are the major threat to the natural beauty of the valley which is very famous among the tourists coming from Punjab.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department has also failed to facilitate tourists by constructing a proper road to the valley as it is not possible to go there without a 4x4 vehicle which everyone can’t afford easily.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Tanveer Shah, a resident of Balochistan, said that he and his friends decided to go to Kumrat Valley after reading about it in newspapers and watching pictures and videos on social media and they found it really good a place to visit but the roads were in very bad shape and inundated in many places by large standing pools.

“Kumrat is a very beautiful place surrounded by lofty mountains and lush green forests but the road is an unpaved one and can be used only by a very good 4x4 vehicle. The plus point is the peaceful environment and good law and order situation. You can come here during night without fearing for your life and luggage,” he said, adding that government should construct a proper road to the valley as soon as possible to make it easily accessible.

Another tourist Muhammad Azam of Gujranwala said that he really enjoyed his visit to the valley and the water falls and its natural beauty was unsurpassed.

He also said that the government should stop the illegal and unplanned constructions in the valley as people were building hotels and restaurants with the help of lower ranking government officials without proper maps despite the fact that Deputy Commissioner had imposed section 144 banning any construction in the valley.

It is worth noting here that it takes six hours to reach the valley from Kumrat Gate in a good 4x4 pickup. The distance is not more than 100 kilometer. If the road is constructed, it will take just an hour to reach the valley and more and more visitors will be able to come here.

The road is not only unpaved but also full of standing water pools which are passable in only off road vehicles.

Read More: SHC seeks report on illegal construction

An official said that in the past the provincial governments planned to construct the road to facilitate the tourists but nothing practical came out of it.

“Millions have been spent by the Tourism Department on publicity and snow festivals despite the fact that good roads are a must to attract tourists. But no one cares about it as long as the K-P Tourism Department gets its news published in the newspapers,” he blamed, adding that the funds given to Tourism Department should be spent on the construction of roads instead of snowboarding festivals and publicity.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2021.