Making promises: Mohmand Marble City affectees to be compensated soon

Political agent assures high court money would be paid within two weeks

PESHAWAR: The political administration of Mohmand Agency has told the Peshawar High Court people affected by the marble city project in the agency will be compensated within two weeks.

Political Agent Waqar Ali gave the assurance on Thursday during the hearing of a petition seeking compensation for Mohmand residents. Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Roohul Amin Khan heard the arguments.

Counsel for petitioner Akbar Khan and 65 other residents, Habibullah Khan, told the court upper parts of Mohmand Agency have large quantities of marble deposits. He added the government had decided to set up Mohmand Marble City (MMC) in the area for excavation and polishing, and acquired land from locals which included agricultural and residential land.

“The locals who were affected by the project had approached the high court which ordered the payment of compensation. For this purpose, FATA Development Authority released Rs35.6 million to the political administration last year,” said Khan.

He further said despite the passing of a year and payment to the political administration, locals whose land was acquired are yet to be compensated.

On the other hand, Political Agent Waqar Ali who was present in the court assured the bench that the compensation amount would be released within two weeks to affected people.

The case was then adjourned till the next hearing set for June 4.

According to FDA’s website, Mohmand, Khyber, Bajaur, Orakzai and Kurram agencies are major zones where marble is extracted. In order to process the available marble into quality products, a marble city in collaboration with Pakistan Stone Development Company Islamabad is being set up, it states. “An area of 300 acres has been acquired for this purpose.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2015.