‘Bigotry behind cutting off fund for Almar, Qaisar electricity’

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): The residents of northwestern Faryab province on Sunday warned against not allocating funds for electricity projects in Almar and Qaisar districts in the 2021 budget.

Provincial Council members and some residents of Fayab allege that work on the Abgardan Dam was kicked off at a cost of $53 million in 2009 but its contract was revoked after 10 years. The entire machinery got damaged and was sold in the market as scrap.

In addition, work on another Abgardan Dam was launched in Pashtonkot district at a cost of $37 million, but the contracting company stopped work because funds could not be provided to them at due time.

They said President Ashraf Ghani again promised the transfer of electricity to Almar and Qaisar districts but he broke his promise by cutting off the allocated funds for the projects in the 2021 budget.

Mohammad TahirRahmani, the Provincial Council head, said: “Some officials in the centre due to their discriminatory mindset do not want national projects to be implemented in this remote province. This project can help eradicate poverty and employment in these areas.”

He said the president had twice promised the transfer of electricity to Almar and Qaisar districts. This project has $30 million cost, he added.

Da Afghanistan Breshana Shirkat was all set to launch work but the Ministry of Finance removed funds from the project in budget 2021.

“Faryab province is out of the sight of central authorities, we once again call on the president to fulfill his promises and release funds for the projects,” said Rahmani.

Haji GhulamSakhi, an influential person, said more than 100,000 residents of the district had long been dreaming of electricity, attaching hopes with promises made by the higher authorities.

He said the residents of Almar 10 years back collected 500 to 2000 afs from every family and purchased three acres of land in the district centre for installation of a sub-station.

He said if electricity was transferred to Almar district, it will improve the living standards of people. People will get familiar with television and technology and their economic condition will improve, he added.

Nh/ma