Residents of Garam Chashma, Chitral forced to climb rocks for their daily commute. PHOTO: MUHKAMUDDIN/EXPRESS
The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) has initiated efforts to remove blockages in Chitral River caused by the accumulation of boulders which had rolled down from mountains nearby.
An official privy with the development told The Express Tribune on Saturday water had gathered in an opening in Ayun union council as a result of the blockages.
“However, the water level has been reduced after FWO officials tried to remove the blockages,” he said. “So far they have managed to partially remove the blockage.”
A people’s struggle
According to residents, timber and huge boulders have rolled down to Chitral River following heavy rain and flash floods in the area since mid-July.
“The flow of water in Chitral River has been hindered to a large extent,” a local told The Express Tribune. “As a result, water was automatically diverted towards Ayun union council and has formed a lake in the area. Most of us were worried because this lake kept getting larger by the day.”
A large number of residents approached FWO officials to tackle this problem in an effective manner.
“We urged them to help us remove the blockage,” said another resident. “We also told them that if they ignored our request, the accumulation of water would wreak destruction across Ayun. Fortunately, they decided to pay attention to this matter.”
Uphill task
A local said FWO officials planted explosives in five different places to remove the blockages.
“Only two of the explosives have detonated,” he said. “Nevertheless, the water level has significantly decreased after the twin explosions. ”
Asif Raza and Khairul Azam, social activists from Ayun, believe the blockages can be removed if the well-trained army personnel also assist FWO officials.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, they pressed the government to start de-silting the area and clean the nullah in Ayun.
Infrastructure woes
The road leading to the upper parts of Chitral from Koragh is still blocked.
Shafiullah, a resident of the district, said this has affected relief activities as people have been forced to scale high mountains to obtain relief packages.
On the other hand, the reconstruction of roads leading toward Garam Chashma is taking place at a slow pace. In some area, residents have taken matters into their own hands and helped reconstruct the route.
The roads to Kalash Valley have also remained closed and many residents have been forced to travel on foot to collect food items and other necessities.
“We are also facing huge problems in taking patients to hospitals,” a local told The Express Tribune. “All routes are blocked and most hospitals are situated far away. We have no choice but to take our loved ones to the hospital on foot. Sometimes we even carry them to hospitals on our backs.”
Darkness prevails
The destruction of Ayun Private Hydel Power Station has created problems for over 20,000 people who relied on the station for their power needs.
“The lack of electricity has negatively impacted our businesses,” he said. “We have appealed to government to help us out.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2015.
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