Khattak for removal of encroachments to minimise flood damage

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak has directed the deputy commissioners to make a comprehensive record of the encroachments in the natural routes of channels and drains and plan the encroachment removal in order to ensure the smooth water flow and minimise the danger of flood damages.

He gave the instructions while talking to a 20-member delegation of farming community led by MPA Arbab Jehandad Khan at CM House Peshawar on Wednesday.

Irrigation secretary and other relevant officials were also present on the occasion. The chief minister directed the irrigation department to set aside Rs.100 million for emergency purposes out of the total Rs.500 million allocated for the maintenance and repair of different schemes of irrigation department. He directed to prepare a feasibility of a permanent structure under the Daudzai Channel which could be reflected in the next Annual Development Program of the province.

The chief minister urged the farming community of the province to pay Rs. 1 billion as taxes on the water usage for cultivating purposes, adding that his government wants to use the resources on public welfare. Countries are run on taxation therefore we have to develop the culture of paying taxes to contribute to the provincial economy, he said.

Pervaiz Khattak called upon the people to voluntarily remove encroachments blocking the natural water flow. Certain elements make encroachments that affect the natural flow of flood, he said, and added that it might be in the interest of individuals but the entire society suffers because of it. “It should be our social responsibility to discourage all those making encroachments and thus blocking the natural flow of water,” the chief minister said. Khattak urged the irrigation department to plan a complete structure of channelisation in order to ensure the appropriate use of surface water resources for making uncultivable land cultivable. CM REVIEWS THEME PARK PROJECT: Meanwhile, Pervaiz Khattak asked for a complete proposal of a water park at Kheshgi Lake, water reservoir and theme park at Swabi Motorway and replacing of the streets and buildings lights with LED. He ordered the authorities to give him a proposal covering all the legal formalities by October 15.

He expressed these views while presiding over another meeting at CM House on Wednesday. MPA Mian Khaliq-ur-Rehman, local government secretary and others were present on the occasion.

A presentation was given to the participants of the meeting and authorities informed that the suitability of proposal for replacing streets and building lights with a LED. 180 Volt of light would cost Rs.44,000 which the K&N International would bear.