FARAH CITY (PAN): A large number of rehabilitation projects have been implemented in Farah province but some direly needed projects cannot be implemented, resident said.
Officials said massive development was done in the province during the last decade in Farah including the construction of 112 building for schools, vegetable super market, sport complex, custom building, 3,000 dug-wells, military installations and 4,500 kilometers road.
Mohammad Younis Rasoli, assistant of Farah governor told Pajhwok Afghan News around 4,500 kilometers roads were either constructed or rehabilitated in the province during the last decade.
He said during the year 2009, a vocational and training school was constructed worth $1.2 million financial assistance extended by the United States while in 2007 buildings for the custom department were constructed near the border area of Shikh Abu Nasar Farahi with Iran.
A sports complex based on modern design was built in the province costing $100,000 with the financial assistance by the ministry of counter narcotics in 2011, he said, adding the construction of another sports gymnasium was expected to be launched soon in the province with a cost of $500,000.
In 2011, a vegetable market was built in Farah city following $ 800,000 financial assistance extended by the USAID, he added.
In addition, he said the construction of multiple military insulations had been completed following the infrastructure of military brigade 207 Zafar in the provincial capital, costing $80 million.
Expressing concerns over the halted projects in the province, he said due to serious problems some projects could not be completed on time.
He stated the construction of 120-kilometers transit route started in 2007 by Iranian company which was scheduled to be completed in two years, however, it could nto be completed within the given time.
 
The construction work on 120-kilometers long road was halted by the Iranian company after the construction of 55-kilometers when 12 worker of the project were abducted by unidentified gunmen in 2011.
The kidnapped workers were released later but the construction work had to be halted, he said.
He said ministry of finance allocated funds for the construction of 200-beds hospital in the province; however, the construction work was yet to be started.
He went on to say certain projects such as the construction of airport runway, Bakshabad Dam, drinking water facility, import of electricity from Iran, cold storages and protection of crops for long time were the basic projects, but work on the projects would be initiated yet.
He said deteriorated law and order situation was the main factor in launching construction work on the projects.
Engineer Mohammad SadiqFaroqi, head of provincial education department said since 2002, construction work on as many as 20 primary, 33 intermediate, 58 high schools and a Dar-ul-Ulom had been completed in the province.
He enumerated 143 schools out of a total 310 were provided with buildings and other needed infrastructure.
Engineer Shah Mahmood, provincial head of rehabilitation and development department said multiple projects had been launched and completed since 2003 in the provincial capital and Pusht Rod, Anar Darah, Shib Koh, Balabluk, and Bakwa districts through National Solidarity Program (NSP).
Engineer Shah Mahmmod said during the third round of NSP has begun inPusht Koh, Lash Jowyan, Bakwah, Gulistan, and Pur Chaman districts, the program helped in creation of around 60 local councils until now and some construction work was also initiated in Bakwa, Gulistan, and Purchaman district.
He informed stone wall and 2,400 meters long northern canal construction in Farah city was among the development work of (NABDP) program.
“The construction work will help prevent human and property losses during floods and torrential rains,” he said.
He went on to say since a couple of months, the stability program of (SIKA) had begun in the Bala Bulk, Pusht Rod and Khaki Safid districts.
He said the program was financially supported by the USAID.
Abdul Hameed, assistant of provincial council said urban areas received more attention than the far-flung areas of the province while the problems of rural areas were more complex than that of the urban areas.
He said anti-state elements were the main factors creating hurdles in the way of completion of development and rehabilitation projects in the province.
Hameed said despite large scale financial assistance and massive rehabilitation work, officials failed to paved way for transportation and connectivity of roads among districts and provincial capital.
He said the NSP program produced tangible results in some areas but many areas were still deprived of the rehabilitation of national solidarity program due to corruption and misuse of funds.
Mohammad Juma Riffat, member of provincial council from Lash Juwayn district while expressing satisfaction over the ongoing rehabilitation work said the presence of militants was the main factor in way of development of the province.
He said since a decade, the basic projects such as construction of dam and establishment of industry could not been launched in the province.
Toryali Rahi, head of youth council in Pusht Rod council said rehabilitation took place in selective areas of the province.
The process of rehabilitation was not carried out by keeping in mind the merit policy in the province that’s why it did not help remove unemployment and militancy.
He went on to say the construction of Bakshabad dame was needed for the development of the province however; the project did not receive any attention by the officials during the past decade.
Early construction of the dame will bolster agriculture and generate employment opportunities in the province, he said, adding the contract for the construction of Bakshabad Dame was signed with Nespa,k a Pakistani construction company.
The Bakshabad dam is to be constructed on Farah River in district Balabluk, which is located 100-kilometers to the east of Farah city.
Muhammad Younis Rasoli reiterated deteriorated law and order situation was the main obstacle preventing rehabilitation in far-flung areas of the province.