KUNDUZ (PAN): Residents of Kunduz while rejecting officials’ view point said rehabilitation projects in the province could not be implemented as were expected by the people earlier. 
Earlier, officials of the province said record rehabilitation work had been done during the last decade elsewhere in Kunduz.
 
 “Many projects are underway to help address people’s problems in transportation, electricity and water distribution sectors,” the official said.
 
Engineer Shafiqullah Alamyar, head of provincial rural development department said currently more than 2,600 projects of rehabilitation of common welfare was underway in the six districts of the province under his departments’ supervision.
 
He told Pajhwok Afghan News 1,500,000 residents would get benefit from the projects with thousands others would get job opportunities at their door steps.
 
He said major parts of the projects included construction of long and small bridges, roads, hospitals, clinics, schools, dams, protecting walls and development of water supply schemes in Chahar Dara, Aliabad, Khan Abad, Imam Sahib, Dashti Archi, Qali Zad districts and Kunduz city.
 
He said the projects were being constructed worth $300 million financial assistance extended by the World Bank.
He said tangible changes had been brought in people’s lives after the implementation of rehabilitation projects with people got facilities of common welfare in the province.
 
He went on to say another 200 projects were to be launched during the current year, which would help remove the remaining grievances of the people.
 
He said the projects would be implemented in education, transportation, drinking water and several other sectors.
 Inayatullah Khaliq, spokesman of Kunduz governor said during the current year as many as 9.15 kilometers road had been constructed with the cost of $840 million in Kunduz city.
He said the project was financially supported by the provincial government, ministry of economic and development bank of Germany. 
 
The under construction road was among the main route of provincial capital and similar important for the transportation of goods and service, he said, adding the dilapidated roads were in dire need to be constructed.
 
He said provincial government agreed with the German Provincial Rehabilitation team to complete the construction of 3- kilometers road of Dawrah town in Kunduz city.
The housing scheme of Dawrah town was a government run project, which was initiated ten years back and the work was underway, which was expected to be completed in the next six months, he added.
 
The town is suitable place for the government and nongovernment employees as far as their traveling is concerned and its another benefit is that it is close to the airport as well.
 
He said the department of attorney general and the Aliabad district governor office were being built while the construction of another five buildings for attorney general and departments of justice in the remaining district were underway following financial assistance by Netherlands.
 
The establishment of legal services in the far-flung areas of the province helped remove mutual disputes and improvement of good governance, he added.
 
He said the construction of another 15- kilometers road, which would connect the capital of Chahardah district with surrounding villages of Qasab and Umarkhel.
 
He siad it would help in bolstering in economic, social bonds of the residents, and the farmers’ community would be able to export their crops from one place to another place without wassting their time.
 
In addition, the road connects the Aliabad and Chardah districta, which left positive impact on the security situation as well.
He said out of 540-kilometers project construction of roads, 158-kilometers had been completed including the construction of 6.5 kilometers Kunduz-Chardarah road and 125-meters long bridge on Chardarah River.
 
He identified 75 projects related to irrigation sector included the construction of canals, dames, water supply schemes and construction of protecting walls were being implemented worth $24 million.
 
He went on to say the current year witnessed the completion of some 181 rehabilitation projects worth 200 million Afs on behalf of provincial rural development department.
The “Rahamat By” bridge connecting Chardarah and Aliabad districts was the tangible example of rehabilitation in the province, he added.
 
The officials said the construction of a sport complex in Aliabad district, costing $198,000 with the financial support extended by the development bank of Germany. In addition, the electricity station in Imama Sahaib would be upgraded with the cost of $16 million and another electricity station would be constructed in Kunduz at the cost of $18 million, which were expected to be completed the current year, he said.
 
Sayed Abdullah, a resident of Dashti Archi said the rural development department helped in providing assistance for 250-meters deep dug-well.
The resident of Dashti Archi district alleged the government for massive corruption and bribe in the funds of rehabilitation projects.
Mustafa, a resident of Qarliq district said that elder of communities are involved in corruption and bribes and later they distribute illegally obtain money among themselves.
He said unless fresh election of regional development council was not conducted, the wealth of government would be going to the pocket of corrupt mafia.
A number of elders of regional development council made huge money, he alleged. 
Mohammad Nasratyar, head of provincial council said the province need more rehabilitation to fulfill the demands of the people in in Dashti Archi, Qali Zal and some areas of Khanabad district. He said large scale assistance was required for the farmers of the province such as the construction of cold storages, paving of roads for the transportation of crops and other stuff.
The provincial council assistance informed that more work was needed to create employment opportunities and stop smuggling and illegal travel to Iran and Pakistan.
 
Nastrayar appreciated the measure of government taken for implementation of basic projects insisted on controlling the activities of illegal armed groups in the province. He said armed groups were disturbing the ongoing rehabilitation program in the province.
 
Being a keen observer of government activities, the assistant of provincial council said the government had failed to implement basic project, which had long lasting positive impact.
Authorities said multiple projects of large scale had been completed by the financial support of Germany and United States in Kunduz province. Similarly, the government worked hard to provide more facilities for the development of the province.
 
Officials said more projects have been implemented in agriculture and livestock, education, public health, women affairs, and work and social affairs departments in the province in an apparent attempt to facilitate the masses.