Sugar mill tragedy: Affected families to be paid Rs2.5 million each

Jirga decides mill’s management will also pay Rs0.5m to others impacted.

DI KHAN: The Chashma sugar mill incident that killed 10 people was a grave tragedy and the result of gross negligence on part of the mill’s management and owners.

This was stated by the provincial assembly opposition leader, Maulana Lutfur Rehman, during a reconciliation jirga between the disputing parties at Circuit House on Wednesday.

As per the jirga’s decision, the mill’s management will compensate the affected families with Rs2.5 million for those killed in the tragedy and Rs0.5 million for others impacted.

The mill will also build a bridge at the place where the incident occurred and will set up a treatment plant at the site to prevent the release of poisonous gases and waste in the future.

Apart from the opposition leader who belongs to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Deputy Commissioner Waqar Ali Khan, staff of the Chashma Sugar Mill and journalists were present at the jirga.

On the occasion, Rehman said poor people suffered in this tragedy and although compensation will not bring back their loved ones, it will help affected families deal with the loss, and work as a deterrent for such incidents.

At least 10 people were killed, including women and children, and nine others fell seriously ill after coming in contact with toxic waste released from the mill in Parowa tehsil earlier this month.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2014.