MANSEHRA: The project director of Dasu hydropower project, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last year, has sought support of the Kohistan elders and people for resumption of construction work on the dam.

The work was suspended about three months ago because of threats by landowners.

`The government has been taking seriously the demands made by the local landowners, but at the same time the people should show flexibility and allow the construction work to go ahead as the project once completed would bring progress and prosperity in their life,` said Engineer Faqir Hussain while speaking to mediapersons on Saturday.

The construction work on the project was suspended on Sept 21, 2013 after the local landowners warned to take law into their hands if their demands were not accepted.

`We are in contact with the provincial government and district administration over the land issue, but until the matter is settled the local landowners should allow Wapda to restart work as this project would bring economic revolution in their lives,` he elaborated.

Mr Faqir said that Wapda should be allowed to complete its work, as the local people would benefit from the economic activities that would be generated following completion of the project. On the other hand, the action committee of Dasu dam affected people says that Wapda has not been working sincerely to address their reservations.

PROJECT: Deputy commissioner, Mansehra, Amir Khattak has formed a committee of landowners and tenants to settle the issue of prices of land being acquired for the construction of Suki Kanari hydropower project in Kaghan valley. The committee was formed during a meeting of landowners with Mr Khattak in his office. A delegation of landowners, led by Fahad Shah, met Mr Khattak after the district administration imposed Section 4 for the acquisition of land last month.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shah said that the district administration had fixed very low prices of the land, which were unacceptable to them. He said that the government should revise the rates in accordance with the formula set for the acquisition of land for Dasu and other such projects in Hazara division.

`We want commercial rates for our land as Kaghan valley is a tourist destination,` said Mr Shah. The deputy commissioner said that the project would not only meet the energy needs of the country, but also bring employment and other economic opportunities for the local people.