Tarinkot (PAN): Though some development and rehabilitation projects have been implemented in Uruzgan, the province is still far backward in terms of advanced infrastructure, health and education.
These views were expressed by the province’s authorities and its residents. Residents says that roads linking the provincial capital to districts are in dilapidated condition, and they face immense trouble when shift their patients to the capital for medical treatment.
However, rejecting claims of the residents, authorities said that roads of the districts leading to the capital have been constructed while rests of those are being constructed.
Abdullah Himat, spokesman of Uruzgan governor told Pajhwok Afghan News that this is one of the backward provinces of the country where people are deprived from basic needs of life.
“The provincial government is committed to bring some sort of drastic changes in the lives of its people by implementing more development projects. We need to improve governance and remain in close coordination with the central government,” the spokesman remarked.
Outlining details of development projects, he said 26 kilometer roads within the city have been constructed while wok is underway to construct roads leading to other districts. Construction work on 14 kilometers Maher Abad- Tarinkot road, 9 kilometers Maher Abad- Chinarto road and 40 kilometers Dihrawud- Tarinkot road is underway.
He informed construction work on a total 250 kilometers road is about to be completed, which would help address the long standing demand of the people.
“Billions of dollars of financial aid extended by Australia and the Netherlands are spent on multiple projects including roads, bridges, and fences alongside the rivers. Efforts are made to construct roads linking districts with the capital,” he added.
Big bridges connecting Dihrawud, Charchino and Surab districts with the capital are some projects that are implemented by his government in an apparent attempt to facilitate the masses, he added.
In addition, as many as 18 buildings for various government departments have been constructed elsewhere in districts and the capital while work on similar other projects is underway, he said.
“The expansion of civil hospital is part of Tarinkot city master plan” he noted.
Provincial authorities said Australia has promised to extend another $25 million assistance, which would be spent on rehabilitation projects in villages and districts through the Ministry of Rural Development and Public Work.
Officials said their main target is to construct roads, which are damaged or never constructed before.
Uruzgan Governor Amir Muhammad Akhunzada said construction of roads helped facilitate people and bolster their economy as well.
Abdul Karim, provincial head of irrigation department said millions of dollars have been spent on building of 35 small dams elsewhere in the province.
“Hundreds of kilometers of river edges and three canals have been reconstructed. The provincial government plans to build Agha Jan dam--- largest in the province--- and another two small dams, and the survey in this connection has already been completed,” he informed.
Habib-u-Rehman, education department acting head said the main problem of his sector is that there is immense shortage of school buildings, adding that measures should be explored to resolve the problem without further delay.
Amanullah Hotaki, head of provincial council while expressing satisfaction over the scale of implementation of rehabilitation projects in the province told Pajhwok Afghan News the city as well as districts of the province got a number of development projects. He said people of the districts feel greater relief with most of their problems have been addressed.
Despite the fact that some people still strive to have access to their basic needs, he said, adding but they laud the rehabilitation projects.
Abdul Kabir, a resident of Chinarto district said the construction of his village road to Tarinkot helped people travel to the provincial capital without facing any hurdles.
“Before the construction of the road, travelling to the capital city was not an easy task. Most of our patients were died on the way to the capital when we brought them for treatment but now the problem is resolved,” he added.
Sayed Muhammad, another resident of Charchino district said earlier they used to take alternative routes because two of the bridges were completely damaged, which cost them more money and waste of time. “With the construction of the road and bridges, we travel to the capital city without facing any problem,” he added.
However, some of the residents complain that rehabilitation work could not be implemented in their localities.
Alhaj Amanullah, a resident of Dihrawud district said that development projects could not be carried out as per the expectations of the masses.
“The government cannot bring direly needed reforms in the education sector. Education in the province is really facing hurdles and is on downward trend,” he added.
Ismail, a resident of Charchino district said people want access to basic needs of life in the backdrop of the nasty wave of terrorism and extremism.
He said the government should take urgent measures to bring drastic changes and develop the education and health as both sectors are in disarray and do not measure up to the expectations of the people.