MANSEHRA: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will execute the Rs5 billion Gravity Flow Water Supply Scheme in Mansehra.

`The JICA has begin a survey for launching the gravity water scheme on the Siren River to supply drinking water to the people of Mansehra and its suburbs,` district nazim Sardar Said Ghulam told reporters here on Thursday.

He visited the project site area in Domail area along with a team of JICA and local MPA Sardar Zahoor.

The people of Mansehra city and adjoining areas don`t have the supply of drinking water. The successive governments announced the launch of water schemes but they weren`t executed.

The nazim said he was aware of water shortage in Mansehra and was worl(ing with the JICA for early execution of the gravity water supply scheme, which would address the water issue permanently.

He said the district government was providing JICA with logistic and other support for the survey and would ensure the execution of the project on time.

The nazim also said the prime minister`s secretariat had released Rs200 million for the acquisition of land for graveyards and that the land acquisition would begin soon.

AWARDS ANNOUNCED: Deputy inspector general of police, Hazara division, Saeed Wazir on Thursday announced awards and certificates for Mansehra police for serving tourists well on Eidul Fitr.

District nazim Sardar Said Ghulam and district police officer Mansehra Ahsan Saifullah were also present in a ceremony, where the announcement was made.

The DIG said Hazara was a peaceful region and therefore, tourists were coming in there in large numbers.

He said he was hopeful that the police would continue serving tourists well.

The DIG said the promotion of tourism promised prosperity and development for the people of the region.

He asked tourists to visit Siren valley in Mansehra and Spat valley in Lower Kohistan saying the two are tourist destinations.

PROTEST DELAYED: The people affected by the 870 megawatts Suki Kanari hydropower project have postponed their protest of blocking the Mansehra-NaranJalkhad Road to traffic for indefinite period after the commissioner of Hazara division invited them for talks next week.

`We have postponed our protest after the commissioner established contact with committees of the people affected by the proposed dam and invited them for talks on land price and other issues on July 10,` Qari Hameedur Rehman, a member of one of committees told reporters on Thursday.