Delay in canal breach relief echoes in PA

PESHAWAR:

An opposition lawmaker in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Thursday warned of protests unless the provincial government swiftly compensates residents hit by the breach of the Chashma Right Bank Canal in Dera Ismail Khan.

JUI-F MPA Makhdoom Aftab warned that if timely assistance was not provided, JUI-F workers would stage sit-ins outside the Chief Minister's House and the provincial assembly.

Speaking on a point of order, Aftab said a large volume of water had entered residential areas after the canal breach, causing substantial damage and hardship. He demanded compensation for the affected people without discrimination and immediate relief measures.

He said the issue had received neither adequate government attention nor sufficient media coverage.

Responding, Provincial Irrigation Minister Riaz Khan said the canal's maintenance fell under WAPDA's jurisdiction, not the provincial Irrigation Department.

He said Rs5 billion had been allocated for the project under last year's Annual Development Programme, while Rs1.5 billion had been allocated by the provincial government and Rs500 million by the federal government this year. Issues concerning land acquisition had also been resolved, he added.

The minister said the district administration had declared an emergency and was assessing the damage. He assured the House that the affected people would not be abandoned and that relief measures would follow a comprehensive assessment.

He said the provincial government had asked WAPDA to repair the canal immediately and hand it over to the province thereafter.