Persons affected by hydropower project block road in protest

MANSEHRA: The affected persons of 860 megawatts Suki Kinari Hydropower Project on Tuesday launched protest and blocked the main road to traffic for the entire day. "We want market price of our land, free electricity and rights for labourers, but the government is not fulfilling its commitments despite accepting our charter of demands," Mian Ashraf, the chairman of the action committee of affected people, told the protesters. The protesters staged sit-in near Ayub Bridge in the heart of Balakot town and blocked the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road to all sort of traffic, causing inconvenience to commuters and motorists.

The protesters were chanting slogans against federal and province governments and in support of their demands. Umar Shah, the member committee, said that some influential people including KP Minister for Health Shahram Tarakai, who were shareholders in company SK Hydro working in the mega project, were creating hurdles in the way of market prices and other incentives.