Probe ordered into illegal logging in Alai

CM warns those involved in felling trees in Battagram will be taken to task

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that the provincial government would not allow illegal cutting of trees and elements involved in the offence will be taken to task.

While responding to a complaint regarding illicit felling of trees in the Allai area of Batagram district directed the secretary forest to submit inquiry report within three weeks. He was talking to local residents during an online katchehri to resolve public issues of district Batagram on Friday.

Through a video link, people from different parts of the district apprised the CM of their issues related to provincial departments.

The CM issued directives to the quarters concerned for immediate steps to resolve issues and address the public grievances.

The chief minister said that holding online katchehries was an effort of the provincial government towards resolving public issues, which will be continued in future.

He said that separate online kachehri would be held for each and every district.

Touching upon the development schemes in district Batagram, the chief minister said that during the last four years, a number of development projects worth around Rs2 billion were completed whereas work on various development projects worth Rs5.7 billion was also in progress.

“Development projects worth Rs2 billion have been reflected in the current development budget for the district,” he said, adding that various projects worth Rs1.5 billion would also be implemented under the district development plan.

Besides, Rs500 million had been allocated for the acquisition of land for establishing campus of Hazara University in Batagram.

He assured that the commitment made to the people regarding status of district to Tehsil Allai would be fulfilled, adding that homework to this effect has been completed and people would get a good news in this regard very soon.

Moreover, he said, a cabinet committee has been constituted regarding creation of Zone 6 comprising certain districts of Hazara and Malakand divisions and hopefully the new zone would be established within a month.

On the citizens’ complaint regarding health card scheme in DHQ Batagram, the chief minister directed the secretary health to conduct inquiry and submit him a report within the next 21 days.

Similarly, he directed the deputy commissioner Batagram to immediately launch a cleanliness drive in the urban areas of Batagram and submit him a report to this effect within a month.

In response to a complaint regarding alleged corruption in government contracts, Mahmood Khan has directed the commissioner Hazara to inquire into the matter and submit him inquiry report within the next 21 days.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2022.