MANSEHRA: The Lower Kohistan administration on Friday directed civic agencies and Wapda to expedite the rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses and infrastructure destroyed by the 2022 flash floods in the district.

`A small hydropower project and several houses were either destroyed or washed away in flash floods three years ago. Now, Wapdawill pay Rs76 million in compensation to the affected families,` Lower Kohistan deputy commissioner Tariq Mehmood told heads of the relevant departments and Wapda officials during a meeting in the district headquarters Pattan.

He also directed Wapda and relevant departments to ensure early payment of compensation to affected families who are settled in the Dubair Khwar downstream area.

The DC said that the 2022 floods had played havoc with houses, schools and health centres in the district.

He later told reporters that the families whose homes were swept away by floods in Kasho Bella Ranolia area would receive a compensation of Rs76 million from Wapda for which legal formalities were being fulfilled.

Mr Mehmood said thatthe district administration and Wapda were working to resolve all rehabilitation and reconstruction issues for good.

`Wapda has also started the process to acquire land downstream in Dubair Khwar to relocate affected people to a safer area. It will compensate them for their land,` he said.

The DC said thatafter extensive negotiations facilitated by the district administration, Wapda agreed tooffer compensation to those affected by the 2022 floods.

He said the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation had begun rehabilitating the powerhouse of a small hydropower project, built by it on Dubair stream before it was partially damaged by the 2022 floods.

`The powerhouse`s rehabilitation is meant to restore electric supply to residents,` he said.

BODY FORMED: Pakistan Peoples Party provincial president Syed Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha has constituted a three-member committee to address intraparty issues in the Hazara division.

Recently, differences emerged within the PPP`s Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur chapters. They remained unresolved despite the efforts of PPP divisional president Malik Farooq.

Mr Farooq told reporters on Friday that the threemember committee`s members visited Mansehra andAbbottabad, met with office-bearers, and asked them about issues within the party.

He said that the leadership was striving to improve the party`s position in Mansehra, Battagram, Lower and Upper Kohistan, Abbottabad and Haripur districts. Correspondent