SNGPL to compensate landowners, says Dir nazim

TIMERGARA: Lower Dir District Nazim Muhammad Rasul Khan on Monday said the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) had decided to compensate the owners of the land that was acquired for laying a gas pipeline in Talash, Adenzai and other parts of the district.

He was talking to landowners in Talash after formally inaugurating measurement of lands along with Additional Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Irshad Khan and SNGPL team.

Earlier, the landowners including Syed Muhammad Waris, Muhammad Bilal, Khaliqur Rehman, Niamatullah, Javed Akhtar and others informed the ADC and district nazim that the SNGPL had acquired 76 kanal land for laying gas pipeline in Talash.

They complained that so far none of the landowners had been compensated.

The landowners demanded payment as per market rates for the land acquired by the SNGPL.

Speaking on the occasion, District Nazim Rasul Khan and ADC Muhammad Irshad said the administration and local lawmakers had raised the issue of gas pipeline land.

They said the SNGPL had sent its measurement team headed by revenue official, Fazal Malik.

They formally inaugurated the measurement process at Bandagai in Talash and directed the SNGPL team to complete the process soon so that the landowners could be compensated.

They said that not only the owners in Talash but also in Adenzai tehsil and other parts of the district would get market rate for the land acquired by the SCGPL.

The residents and elders of Talash demanded the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to ensure payment of the land occupied by the government for Talash bypass road.

They said the contractors leveled their land in Bandagai and Shahikhel union councils after bidding for the project and they did not resist because they wanted the project to be completed soon.

The residents said that construction work on Talash bypass road had been stopped due to non-availability of funds.

They said the farmers could neither utilize their lands nor they were being compensated. They warned of occupying the lands acquired for by pass road and move the court if the government failed to ensure the compensation payment till June this year. Also in the day the Awami national Party spokesman and former senator Zahid Khan inaugurated gas supply project to Bandagai village in Talash during a function attended by area elders and party workers.

Addressing the function Zahid Khan said the gas supply to Bandagai village would cost Rs52 million.