PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local government and rural development minister Inayatullah Khan on Friday insisted that the execution of the Greater Water Supply Scheme Peshawar was delayed due to nnancial constraints.

He however said the government was considering to carry out the project from own resources instead of looking for the donors` assistance to ensure the supply of clean drinking water to the residents of the provincial capital.

The minister told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that the government had planned to supply drinking water from Warsak andBara dams to Peshawar under the GWSSP to meet the city`s requirements.

He said the project required huge funds and therefore, it couldn`t be executed without the foreign financial assistance.

Mr Inayatullah, however, said he was hopeful that enough fiscal space would be available in the next two to three years to help the government execute the project from own financial resources.

The reports suggest that the government requires around Rs50 billion to execute the scheme.

When asked about the recent increase in water tariff for Peshawaris, the minister said an independent board of the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar had approved the higher water charges but that move should be reviewed after the consumers` protest.

Regarding the old and broken water pipeline in the capital city, he said his department was taking necessary corrective measures.

The minister said a new drainage system was required by theprovincial capital.

When asked about the dilapidated condition of Peshawar`s general bus stand, he said the government had planned to shift the facility out of the city and had acquired 800kanals oflandforthe development of a modern bus terminal.

The minister said a modern shopping mall and civic centre along with the CPEC Tower would be constructed on a land measuring 144-152 kanals on the current general bus stand`s premises.

Regarding the transparency in the utilisation of local government funds, he said the pre-audit of the local tehsil municipal administrations` funds was conducted through the internal account offices, while the external funds were audited by the Accountant General Office.

Accompanied by secretary of the Local Government Board Khizar Hayat and deputy secretary Mian Shafiq, the minister highlighted the department`s performance and achievements duringthelastfouryears.He said a modern system had been introduced to bring transparency in the online auction of contracts in all TMAs.

The minister said the revenue of TMAs had increased from Rs1.5 billion to Rs4 billion, which would reach the Rs5 billion mark by the end of 2018.

He said the revenue collected from Mingora bus stand had increased from Rs20 million to Rs160 million and that of Peshawar`s main bus stand from Rs100 million to Rs400 million.

The minister also said e-bidding system had introduced at all TMAs and AD offices.

Mr Inayat said the department had taken measures to improve waste dumping and sanitation and drainage system.

He said the TMAs, which had outstanding performance, would get matching grants as well as rewards for the relevant staff members.

The minister said a Rs3 billion project had been launched to increase the capacity of local governments.