SC seeks report on what’s been done to help Sindh’s flood-hit

‘Flood commission gave recommendations but were they followed?’.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has asked the attorney-general of Pakistan and Sindh authorities to submit a report on what has been done to address the financial and mental sufferings of the people hit by the floods in the province so far.

A three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, was hearing a petition filed by former MNA Marvi Memon who had submitted documentary evidence that a flood inquiry commission’s recommendations had not been followed despite court orders.

On June 7, a flood inquiry commission had released a report in pursuance of court orders and the Supreme Court had directed the federal and provincial governments to ensure its recommendations were followed. Action was to be taken against departments whose negligence caused the loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer.

“The miseries of the calamity-hit people in Sindh are on the rise and should be addressed immediately,” the chief justice observed.

The attorney-general and advocate-general of Sindh presented a joint report of the provincial disaster management authority, Sindh. The attorney-general informed the bench that 6.9 million people were given rations in Sindh so far. The joint report includes a summary of losses, the number of affected people and damaged crops. Efforts are being made to provide medical help and other facilities to the flood-hit areas. He informed the bench that one of the major reasons for the devastation was encroachments which stopped water from draining out.

The chief justice observed that the rains had destroyed bumper cotton crops. “It is time to reduce people’s miseries and take concrete action rather than prepare reports.”

As many as 7.1 million people are on the list of those who can be helped by reducing the water level as quickly as possible. The court adjourned the hearing for ten days.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th,  2011.