Construction of bridge over Kohat stream demanded.

KOHAT -- The local residents have demanded construction of a bridge over the centuries-old Kohat Toi (stream) flowing from Orakzai district, whose water has been diverted to fill the Tanda Dam.

They said that protection walls were required along the stream to save their homes from being damaged when it swelled during rains.

They said that the road connecting the Kohat city with the Hangu Road and Tanda Dam villages remained inundated when additional water was released after the reservoir got filled, forcing the people to take a long route to reach their destinations.

They said the road provided a short-cut to Hangu Road inhabitants and Tanda Dam villages.

When contacted, irrigation department SDO Daud Khan told Dawn that the shallow road was in fact a causeway on the stream. He said it had been constructed by the irrigation department for the convenience of the staff of Tanda Dam.

He said millions of rupees were required for constructing a bridge.

Mr Daud said that floods were caused due to encroachments, adding despite serving notices to owners of illegal houses they were not removing them. He said it was duty of the tehsil municipal administration to remove encroachments.

He said the stream had become narrow due to encroachments, as a result, gushing water uprooted trees and mud houses.

The official said that the people had also raised orchards along the stream.

Meanwhile, the residents alleged the irrigation department had made no serious effort to remove the encroachments up to 20 feet into the Toi stream...