GHAZNI - Local officials promised last year to construct Band-i-Sultan dam in Jaghatu district of Ghazni province but the construction is yet to start, according to residents of Ghazni.

Hundreds of them visited the irrigation department and reminded the government to keep its promise and utilize the funds set aside for the construction.

Haji Bismillah, a resident of Khwaja Omari district, said that officials had previously cited insecurity as a major hindrance to starting the work. He also said that the residents had negotiated with the Taliban, who had promised not to create problems during construction.

"The Taliban have given us written guarantees which we have delivered to the concerned officials, but still practical work has not started yet," Mr. Bismillah said.

Ghazni deputy governor, Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, said security in the province had improved, but the Water and Energy Ministry had no interest in carrying out mega projects in Ghazni, adding that residents were ready to keep security for the dam project. But the ministry used the word ‘insecure’ to hide its incompetency to initiate job-creating projects.

The head of Irrigation Department in Ghazni, Shafiqullah Jehani, confirmed funds for the dam had been allocated, but the work could not be launched pending a technical study.

Source: Paktya (Awoshtoon Radio) Headlines