Sindh set back by Rs438b
Earlier, the government had put the number at Rs550 billion and had warned that it might reach Rs700 billion.
KARACHI:
Sindh has suffered losses worth Rs438 billion, said Kaisar Bengali, the chief minister’s adviser on planning and development, at a press conference with information adviser Jamil Soomro on Sunday.
Earlier on, the government had put the number at Rs550 billion and had warned that it might reach Rs700 billion. The province’s budget for the current fiscal year was Rs422 billion. “These are authentic figures,” Bengali said, cautioning, however, that the final numbers can only be assessed later as the devastation was still unfolding.
More than 700,000 people have been displaced within two days from Thatta and Dadu districts, said Soomro. Furthermore, Sindh is facing a bigger disaster in the shape of disease. “We are using all our resources, but cannot tackle the problem alone,” he said. “We need the support of organisations working on health and hygiene. The government will help them.”
The government and district machinery is trying to save Thatta city. Luckily there is no further threat to Larkana, Ratodero and Shahdadkot cities. He maintained that the government was keeping a vigil on the embankments and canals 24 hours a day.
Around 3.1 million acres of land have been inundated and standing crops over 16,6871 acres have been damaged. “We have suffered Rs113 billion in agricultural losses and the Rabi crop will not be cultivated,” he said.
In addition to this, 416 fish farms have been destroyed and around 180,000 big and small animals have been swept way. The total loss to livestock has reached 12 billion rupees. Around 35 small and medium towns have been affected and their municipal services have totally collapsed. The government assess this as Rs40 billion in losses.
Around 1,800 kilometers of provincial highways and 4,500 kilometers of district roads have been submerged. “The loss to the road sector has reached Rs38 billion,” he said.
All the canals, distributaries, and regulators have been destroyed and according to initial estimates this is Rs52 billion in losses. Around 6,800 schools been affected, setting the Education department back Rs27 billion. Similarly, 100 health centres, including taluka hospitals, have been affected (Rs3 billion).
Most of the districts located on the right side of the River Indus have been worst affected. On the left side, only Thatta district has been hit.
The total deaths are 135 so far and 750 people were injured. Five to six people lose their lives every day from sunstroke, gastroenteritis and other water-borne diseases.
Around three thousand camps have been set up and are now home to 1.1 million people.
Heavy machinery
The government is short on heavy machinery which is why it is having a problem plugging the breaches in canals and embankments, said adviser Jamil Soomro.
Defending allegation against a minister over the Tori bund breach, Soomro said that most of the land that was inundated is owned by Pakistan Peoples Party ministers, legislators or party workers. “I can say that this is just a blame game,” he said.
He went on to point out in defense of the government that not a single breach took place in the 175 points declared vulnerable by the irrigation department. “No one can predict the behaviour of the River Indus,” he added.
To a question he said that an inquiry must be conducted against irrigation officials involved in the misappropriation of funds that were allocated to strengthen embankments and maintain barrages. “Since 1996 not a single penny has been used,” he said. “I say that action should be taken against those who were responsible.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2010.
Sindh has suffered losses worth Rs438 billion, said Kaisar Bengali, the chief minister’s adviser on planning and development, at a press conference with information adviser Jamil Soomro on Sunday.
Earlier on, the government had put the number at Rs550 billion and had warned that it might reach Rs700 billion. The province’s budget for the current fiscal year was Rs422 billion. “These are authentic figures,” Bengali said, cautioning, however, that the final numbers can only be assessed later as the devastation was still unfolding.
More than 700,000 people have been displaced within two days from Thatta and Dadu districts, said Soomro. Furthermore, Sindh is facing a bigger disaster in the shape of disease. “We are using all our resources, but cannot tackle the problem alone,” he said. “We need the support of organisations working on health and hygiene. The government will help them.”
The government and district machinery is trying to save Thatta city. Luckily there is no further threat to Larkana, Ratodero and Shahdadkot cities. He maintained that the government was keeping a vigil on the embankments and canals 24 hours a day.
Around 3.1 million acres of land have been inundated and standing crops over 16,6871 acres have been damaged. “We have suffered Rs113 billion in agricultural losses and the Rabi crop will not be cultivated,” he said.
In addition to this, 416 fish farms have been destroyed and around 180,000 big and small animals have been swept way. The total loss to livestock has reached 12 billion rupees. Around 35 small and medium towns have been affected and their municipal services have totally collapsed. The government assess this as Rs40 billion in losses.
Around 1,800 kilometers of provincial highways and 4,500 kilometers of district roads have been submerged. “The loss to the road sector has reached Rs38 billion,” he said.
All the canals, distributaries, and regulators have been destroyed and according to initial estimates this is Rs52 billion in losses. Around 6,800 schools been affected, setting the Education department back Rs27 billion. Similarly, 100 health centres, including taluka hospitals, have been affected (Rs3 billion).
Most of the districts located on the right side of the River Indus have been worst affected. On the left side, only Thatta district has been hit.
The total deaths are 135 so far and 750 people were injured. Five to six people lose their lives every day from sunstroke, gastroenteritis and other water-borne diseases.
Around three thousand camps have been set up and are now home to 1.1 million people.
Heavy machinery
The government is short on heavy machinery which is why it is having a problem plugging the breaches in canals and embankments, said adviser Jamil Soomro.
Defending allegation against a minister over the Tori bund breach, Soomro said that most of the land that was inundated is owned by Pakistan Peoples Party ministers, legislators or party workers. “I can say that this is just a blame game,” he said.
He went on to point out in defense of the government that not a single breach took place in the 175 points declared vulnerable by the irrigation department. “No one can predict the behaviour of the River Indus,” he added.
To a question he said that an inquiry must be conducted against irrigation officials involved in the misappropriation of funds that were allocated to strengthen embankments and maintain barrages. “Since 1996 not a single penny has been used,” he said. “I say that action should be taken against those who were responsible.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2010.