Flood relief activities: CM takes negligent medical officials to task

RAJANPUR/ FAISALABAD/ LAYYAH:

The chief minister’s visit to Layyah’s flood relief camps on Tuesday took many by surprise, especially some Irrigation Department officials who were reprimanded for the breach of the Bakhri Ahmad Khan bund’s main dyke.  

The chief minister also demanded an explanation from the Irrigation Department’s chief engineer for the negligence. Parallel inquiries have already been ordered in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts where similar breaches had occurred at dykes recently repaired and supposedly strengthened at a cost of around Rs500 million.  Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal has been asked to oversee the inquiries.

The chief minister’s visit began at the flood relief camp at Kehror Lal Eisan. He said that he did not believe that government officials had been serving flood victims in any of the flood-hit areas with honesty. They were just putting on a show for him, he said.

The chief minister promised the flood victims that he would visit them regularly and try to address their issues. For the children at flood relief camps, he asked education officials to set up makeshift schools in order to keep them occupied.

As he was leaving Layyah, the chief minister changed his mind and turned back to check on medical camps. Security officials tried to dissuade him citing security reasons but Sharif sat in a passenger van and travelled to the medical relief camp which he found deserted.

He then ordered suspension of the Layyah Health officer, the DHQ hospital MS and two officers responsible for monitoring the relief camps.

In Faisalabad, the district administration has set up 35 flood relief camps to provide prompt relief to the people in case of a flood emergency. Nine of the camps have been set up in Chiniot, 18 in Jhang, and eight in Toba Tek Singh. A control room has been established at each of the district headquarters.

RPO Ehsan Taufail issued directions for 78 ASIs, 34 head constables and 406 constables to be deputed for flood relief in Faisalabad district. In Jhang district, three sub-inspectors, three ASIs and 18 constables have been deputed. In Toba Tek Singh district, two sub-inspectors, six ASIs, 20 constables, nine upper subordinates, 18 head constables, six lady constables and 64 volunteers have been deputed.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2015.