2010 flood compensation: ‘Strike if payments not cleared in two weeks’

Protesters said government had yet to pay compensation amount promised to them for the damage caused to their crops.

FAISALABAD:

Dozens of residents of Chak 51 and 52 GB, Samundri, organised a rally on Monday in protest over delay in payment of compensation to the families affected in the two villages by the 2010 floods.

The rally arranged by Flood Victims Action Committee culminated in sit-ins first in front of the Press Club and then in front of the office of the district coordination officer. The protesters said the government had yet to pay compensation amount promised to them for the damage caused to their crops by the flood. The rally was led by Rana Waqar Ahmed, Rana Nasir Manj, Rana Muhammad Hanif, Rana Waheed and Dr Patrick. They demanded that the two villages should be declared calamity hit areas. The protesters threatened with hunger strike till death if the compensation was not paid within 15 days.

DCO Nasim Sadiq told The Express Tribune that the matter had been pending with the Finance Department. He said compensation would be paid once funds were released by the department.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2012.