Survivors feel daunted by construction costs, winter
Survivors in Nowshera say Rs20,000 released under the Watan card scheme is barely sufficient to build one room.
PESHAWAR:
Reconstruction activities are gaining momentum in flood-hit Nowshera and Charsadda districts as survivors are rebuilding their destroyed and damaged houses on self-help basis.
Worst-hit areas like Mohib Banda, Dheri Mian Ishaq, Pashton Ghari, Azakhel, Nowshera Kalan, and Pir Sabaq are prominent in this regard.
Few villagers are rich enough to afford construction material like cement: most of them rely on just stones and bricks for laying foundations of their homes.
The prices of construction materials, including cement, proper bricks and steel, have gone beyond the purchasing power of most people, most of whom are daily wage earners.
Before the floods, people could buy 3,000 bricks for Rs9,000. These are now being sold for Rs15, 000 and the buyers also have to bear an average transportation cost of Rs2,000.
Owners of tractor trolleys and trucks have also increased charges for carrying freight.
Misal Khan, a retired government official whose house was badly damaged by the floods in Dheri Mian Ishaq village in Nowshera, said the government’s Rs20,000 aid scheme through Watan cards to each flood victim for reconstruction is simply insufficient.
“Generally speaking, only 4,000 bricks can be purchased with Rs20,000. What will a poor man do after that?” he asked.
Misal urged the government to immediately release Rs100,000 for flood survivors so that they could at least build a room for themselves.
The advent of freezing weather is adding to the miseries of flood survivors, some of whom are unable to afford even a blanket.
Masood Khan, a barber, whose house was completely washed away in the floods, said that he had been left out of pocket. “My children are shivering out in the open at nights. They repeatedly ask for a warm room. But, I have no money and am completely helpless,” he added.
Masood added that the distribution of Watan cards is very complicated.
“Most of the people from Mohib Banda, Amankot and Pasthun Ghari in Pabbi areas who had gone to Nowshera to obtain Watan cards, have returned empty- handed,” he said.
He urged Khyber-Pakthunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti to direct the authorities to set up Watan card distribution centres in Pabbi to facilitate a large number of flood victims.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2010.
Reconstruction activities are gaining momentum in flood-hit Nowshera and Charsadda districts as survivors are rebuilding their destroyed and damaged houses on self-help basis.
Worst-hit areas like Mohib Banda, Dheri Mian Ishaq, Pashton Ghari, Azakhel, Nowshera Kalan, and Pir Sabaq are prominent in this regard.
Few villagers are rich enough to afford construction material like cement: most of them rely on just stones and bricks for laying foundations of their homes.
The prices of construction materials, including cement, proper bricks and steel, have gone beyond the purchasing power of most people, most of whom are daily wage earners.
Before the floods, people could buy 3,000 bricks for Rs9,000. These are now being sold for Rs15, 000 and the buyers also have to bear an average transportation cost of Rs2,000.
Owners of tractor trolleys and trucks have also increased charges for carrying freight.
Misal Khan, a retired government official whose house was badly damaged by the floods in Dheri Mian Ishaq village in Nowshera, said the government’s Rs20,000 aid scheme through Watan cards to each flood victim for reconstruction is simply insufficient.
“Generally speaking, only 4,000 bricks can be purchased with Rs20,000. What will a poor man do after that?” he asked.
Misal urged the government to immediately release Rs100,000 for flood survivors so that they could at least build a room for themselves.
The advent of freezing weather is adding to the miseries of flood survivors, some of whom are unable to afford even a blanket.
Masood Khan, a barber, whose house was completely washed away in the floods, said that he had been left out of pocket. “My children are shivering out in the open at nights. They repeatedly ask for a warm room. But, I have no money and am completely helpless,” he added.
Masood added that the distribution of Watan cards is very complicated.
“Most of the people from Mohib Banda, Amankot and Pasthun Ghari in Pabbi areas who had gone to Nowshera to obtain Watan cards, have returned empty- handed,” he said.
He urged Khyber-Pakthunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti to direct the authorities to set up Watan card distribution centres in Pabbi to facilitate a large number of flood victims.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2010.