MANSEHRA: The district development advisory committee of Torghar on Monday approved education and health projects and ordered inquiry into the alleged embezzlement of a road project`s funds.

The meeting was chaired by local MPA and committee chairman, Zareen Gul, and attended by deputy commissioner Pervez Khan, district police officer Sardar Khan, Kundar Hassanzai tehsil nazim Shahzad Shah, Judbah tehsil nazim Abdul Qadir and district heads of relevant departments.The participants approved the Rs5 billion Barandu Khawar micro hydropower project and establishment of four high secondary schools and 10 primary schools.

They also gave approval to the construction of the Rs900 million district headquarters hospital, 33 dispensaries in remote villages having no health facilities, the Rs17 million Sunghdar water project and Rs10 million Mujgakot water scheme.

The participants decided that non-locals working in the government departments of the district would be transferred to their respective districts and that their positions would be filled by the local residents.They expressed concern about the use of substandard material in the construction of Mera Gowdar Road and asked the works and communication department to hold inquiry into it.

Mr. Gul said Rs18 million would be provided to primary schools to procure furniture as their students attended classes on thenoor.

He said the approved health projects would ensure the provision of basic healthcare to the people in the district.

The DDAC chairman said for the first time, the district would have a tertiary care hospital.

`Until it is in place, the rural health centre of Judbah will function as tertiary care hospital,` he said.

Mr. Gul said the committee wouldn`t allow contractors to misappropriate even a single penny of development funds meant for the people`s welfare.

He said corrupt contractors or those delaying the execution of projects would be dealt with strictly.