This was stated by the Political Agent Bajaur Agency Pirzada Khan Wazir while briefing a delegation of Peshawar based journalists led by DG Media FATA Shah Zaman Khan here at his office.
The political agent said poppy crop over 7000 kanal of lands was grown in inaccessible areas of the agency, which was destroyed by the khasadars with the collaboration of the local tribesmen.
The agency has now been opened up 100 percent as there is no go or inaccessible area, he added.
A network of development activities in social sectors like education, health, agriculture and drinking water has been extended to the areas falling in the jurisdiction of Barang, Lararang, Charmang and Mamoon tehsils of the agency, he added.
Major chunk of the development funds have been diverted to poppy growing areas with main focus on promotion of education especially female, employment in local Khasadar force, construction of roads, establishment of schools and health-units to improve their socio-economic condition, Pirzada Khan Wazir said.
To a question, the political agent said that 95 percent funds of Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) of US Embassy are being spent on the development of poppy growing areas as no facility of civic amenities exist there.
He said law and order in the agency is peaceful and calm as during the last two years no incident of car-lifting, kidnapping for ransom and road robbery has been reported. He said the occurrences of mine blasts, which were taking place two years back have now been controlled.
He said that the agency shared 66 kilometers border with Afghanistan which is effectively monitored as the tribes living on both sides of the borders have complete understanding and the issues raised from time to time are settled amicably.
About the Afghan refugees, he said, two major camps of the refugees in the agency are being closed from September 1 of the current year and added that over 70 percent refugees have migrated to their country while the remaining would leave for their country in next few days.
Referring to development programme 2004-05, the political agent said, development of communication sector topped the priority list as Rs 150 million would be spent on road infrastructure, followed by education Rs 100 million, health Rs 50 million, public health engineering Rs 40 million, irrigation Rs 61 million, livestock Rs 2 million, physical planning Rs 4.7 million, technical education Rs 6 million, forestry Rs 4.7 million, rural development Rs 4 million and agriculture Rs 5 million.
The political agent said, the agency would receive Rs 25.6 million funds from NAS during the current fiscal years. While the Governor NWFP has approved establishment of two colleges in the agency, he added.
At Kagga area of Mamoon tehsil, 10 kilometers long road is under-construction at a cost of Rs 10 million from the NAB fund. The area has just been opened, he informed.
Pirzada Khan Wazir said, the present Governor of the province is taking keen interest in the real development of the agency, which could be gauged from the development allocation of the agency for the current year which has no precedence in the last 25 years.
He said that 85 percent of the development fund would go to ongoing schemes and remaining 15 percent for the new schemes.
To a question, the Political Agent said that Rs 2.2 million is collected under the head of Wapda. Only commercial and industrial units have been meterised while domestic consumers have not yet been brought under the meter system.
Earlier, the journalist delegation visited various mega under construction development projects that included Tallai Dam, Sports Complex, Jinnah Bus Terminal, forest nursery and Press Club.
Briefing the journalists at the site of under construction Thallai dam, Xen irrigation said that the dam is expected to be completed by December 31, 2004 at a cost of Rs 18,987 million, it would irrigate about 275 acres of land.
He said, 70 percent construction work on the dam has been completed. The height of the dam is 1.5.2 meters (50 feet) and water discharge from the dam would be about 2 to 3 cusec.
To provide improved travelling facilities to the tribal people of Bajaur agency, a spacious Jinnah Bus Terminal is being constructed in the agency at a cost of Rs 50 million and would be completed by March 2005.
The project is being funded from Bajaur Special Development Fund at 50 kanal of land which would have the capacity of 32000 passengers and 325 buses; 30 rooms for the passengers, drivers and a restaurant.
Giving the details about the under construction sports complex in the agency Xen C and W Ghulam Daud Khan said, this mega project is being constructed under the Governor's directives at a cost of Rs 29 million.
The completion of the project is due in June 2006, he said, adding, 50 percent work has been completed.
The sports complex, he said, would have the sitting capacity of 20000 spectators, it would have international standard cricket stadium, football and hockey grounds and two each badminton and tennis courts.
The journalists also inspected construction work on 10 km long Khar - Nawagai road being constructed at a cost of Rs 25.6 million.
Bajaur Agency comprises two sub-divisions Khar and Nawagai and seven tehsils Mamoon, Nawagai, Utmankhel, Salarzai, Khar, Barang, and Chamarl and. The total population of the agency is. 600,000.
Assistant Political Agent Khar Abdul Jabbar Shah, APA Nawagai Haji Said Ahmed Jan, Tehsildar Khar Mawaz Khan and representatives of the line department accompanied the delegation during the visit.