Making amends: Compensation promised to families that lost members in rain emergency

Every nook and cranny of Sindh, except Hyderabad and Karachi, devastated: CM.

KARACHI: Families who lost their breadwinners in the rains will be paid Rs200,000 in compensation, was the Sindh government’s decision after much deliberation at a rain emergency meeting on Tuesday. While the estimates are rough, till a day ago at least 46 people were reported to have lost their lives.

Those who lost other family members will receive Rs100,000 for every loved one lost.

Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah presided over the gathering of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and agriculture and local government officials briefed them about the losses.

The CM announced that, with the exception of Hyderabad and Karachi, the entire province has faced some form of devastation or the other and the loss of lives, crops, cattle and infrastructure has put Sindh in a state of disaster.

The CM had just recently returned from a two-day survey of the four badly affected districts of Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas, Badin and Tando Muhammad Khan along with a team of ministers.

He clarified that no cuts have been made in funds for development schemes. Work, however, would have to wait a couple of months until the water drains. He directed for the preparation of ‘Peoples Relief Cards’ or Watan Cards and Rs10,000 in compensation and financial assistance for damaged homes to be handed to the heads of families. Meanwhile, the Rs10,000 from the federal government is expected to be released soon.

He pegged the local government department with the responsibility of draining water and told the PDMA and other departments to arrange for suction pumps. He promised to schedule a joint meeting of the agriculture department and growers’ organisation to discuss the loss of crops. The CM stressed the need for food, clean drinking water, tents and medicines to keep the affected people healthy and protect them from diseases. He called on people to step forward, donate and do their bit to help and for an effective contingency plan to be chalked out.

PDMA assessment

PDMA Director-General Saleh Farooqui put the total number of villages damaged at 13,249 and said that 3.8 million people have been affected. About 690,000 people are homeless of which 130,000 are living in relief camps.

A total of 4.1 million acres are submerged of which 1.77 acres was cultivated land. So far, 50,000 tents have been delivered by PDMA, while the NDMA has sent the 10,000 tents they committed and have promised to send more 100,000 more along with 200,000 ration bags at 10,000 bags per day.

Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani informed the meeting that Taluka Municipal Administration officers have been told to assist and cooperate with the district governments and other secretaries also highlighted the efforts of their departments.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th,  2011.