Early reconstruction of flood-hit houses, roads stressed

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

“A small hydropower project and many houses were either destroyed or washed away by the flash floods three years ago. Now, Wapda will pay Rs76 million as compensation to the affected families,” Tariq Mehmood, Deputy Commissioner of Lower Kohistan, told a meeting attended by the heads of devolved departments and Wapda officials in Pattan, the district headquarters of Lower Kohistan.

The deputy commissioner also directed the relevant departments and Wapda to ensure early payment of compensation to affected families settled in the Dubair Khwar downstream area.“Houses, schools, and health facilities were also destroyed by the 2022 flash floods,” he said.

“The families whose homes were swept away in the floods in Kasho Bella in Ranolia will receive a compensation amount of Rs76 million from Wapda, and legal formalities are being completed to resolve this matter as soon as early,” Mehmood told reporters after the meeting.

He added that the district administration and Wapda were working to resolve all rehabilitation and reconstruction issues permanently.“Wapda has also started the process of acquiring land downstream in Dubair Khwar to relocate affected settlers to a safer location and will compensate them for their land,” Mehmood said.

The deputy commissioner said that after extensive negotiations brokered by the district administration the Wapda agreed to pay compensation to those impacted by the 2022 floods after Dubair dam’s spillways were opened.