MIRPURKHAS: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said on Sunday that owing to breaches in LBOD drains, the situation has worsened in rain-hit Mirpurkhas, Badin and Tando Mohammad Khan districts.Unprecedented devastation occurred in the province, the chief minister observed, and said that he declared Tando Allahyar district as calamity-hit.
Talking to mediamen at Jamrao Bridge, Qaim said a large number of people had been adversely affected, adding that “first of all, we are making efforts to shift them to safer places and provide them ration and other things indiscriminately”.He said he demanded the federal government to provide more grants for affectees of the stated districts because of the emergency conditions therein.
The chief minister said that in the first phase, Rs 10,000 would be given to each affected family by the provincial government, while later on, Rs10,000 would be given to each of them on behalf of the federal government.He said that owing to serious inefficiency of the Livestock secretary and Mirpurkhas Livestock officer, cattle were killed in large numbers without receiving any vaccination, adding that the officials concerned failed to send teams in rural areas on time. He said that stern action would be taken against those responsible.Qaim said that after stoppage of rains, a survey of the losses would be carried out in the affected areas. He said he himself was visiting flood affected areas to examine the situation and address the grievances of the people. He said he also directed provincial ministers to visit their areas to help the affected people.
In reply to a media query, the chief minister said that the devastation was more than that afflicted by the natural disaster of intermittent rains.The government was helping the affected people within its resources, said Qaim, adding that it also appealed philanthropists to come forward for the help of the affected people.He said he received many complaints against various town administrators, adding that he also received complaints of the negligence of Mirpurkhas TMA administrator Raj Kumar. An inquiry was being carried out and if found guilty, Kumar would be suspended, he said.
The chief minister asserted that relief ration and other goods were being provided to the affected people, while stranded people were being shifted to safer places. He said that it was a historical devastation and government officers should realise their responsibilities.Upon his arrival at Jamrao Canal Bridge from Tando Allahyar, Qaim was welcomed by MNAs Mir Munawar Ali Khan Talpur and Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, MPAs Shamim Aara Panhwer and Mir Haji Hayat Talpur, Mirpurkhas DCO Ghulam Hussain Memon, SSP Riaz Soomro and other officials. – Nation
