Pakistan

Displaced families may go home soon: Shah

Ahmed Mir June 07, 2010

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah on Monday hinted that families displaced by the Attabad ‘landslide lake’ may be repatriated to their homes in the near future.

“Soon we are going to convene a Gilgit-Baltistan cabinet meeting in Gilgit where we will decide whether IDPs living in camps should be allowed to return to their homes or be facilitated in camps for some more time,” Shah told journalists outside the assembly on Monday.

The CM didn’t say whether the danger of flooding from the lake was over, and didn’t reveal what had caused the government to consider repatriation.

According to experts, the crisis is far from being resolved.

Reports have indicated that pressure from the IDPs forced the local government to talk about planning repatriation of those stranded in relief camps.

Some reports said that the IDPs had grown increasingly uncomfortable as temperatures rose, making life in relief camps unbearable. The IDPs were adamant that they wanted to return home as soon as possible.

As a precautionary measure, last month the government had evacuated more than 20,000 people living in villages downstream, shifting them to camps set up at safer places.

But contrary to expectations, the lake did not burst its banks.

Assistant commissioner Hunza, Zamir Abbas, said that the water level in the lake was decreasing and that the inflow had matched the outflow, meaning that lake water will not reach villages upstream.

Abbas said that helicopter services continued to operate on Monday, transporting food and passengers from Hunza, Gojal and Gilgit.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s adviser Asma Alamgir announced that the government will provide compensation to the affectess of the lake disaster for the loss of their crops and homes.

While addressing the media in Islamabad, Alamgir said a survey is being conducted to estimate the amount of loss incurred by the landslide. The adviser said a comprehensive plan is being devised to ensure continuity of education for the children. Alamgir also said the government has spent Rs80 million on the spillway and Rs15 million on helicopter services.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (1)

George | 14 years ago | Reply The lake could burst in hours, days, weeks, months, even years from now. The downstream people who are now in a safe location could all be lost if they move back and the lake bursts. I would not count on the government to be able to maintain a heightened state of vigilance for a prolonged period. Far better to take positive steps to lower the lake to a stable level now while lives are not at risk below. Yes, that means blasting even though there are major engineering difficulties. It may be necessary to erect platforms to enable proper placement of charges which may require getting cranes into the area. Perhaps spans could be lowered by helicopters. Then they would have to be removed to safety before the blast as they would likely be needed again.

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