Ombudsman’s order: ‘Compensate flood affected families within a month’

Villagers from Jhang said they had not been compensated since last year

LAHORE: Ombudsman Javed Mahmood ordered the Provincial Disaster Management Authority director general and the DCO on Wednesday to pay compensation to those affected in the 2014 floods.

Mahmood directed officials to submit a compliance report in this regard. According to details, residents of a village in Jhang had moved a complaint to the ombudsman that their dwellings had been destroyed in last year’s floods. They said survey teams had assured them that their losses would be compensated. They had informed him that they had not received a penny.

The ombudsman had instructed Jhang District Advisor Muhammad Obaidullah Sial to look into the matter. The concerned tehsildar had revealed names of the complainants were on the list of those affected by the floods. He had informed the ombudsman that they were eligible for compensation but he was not in a position to do anything about it. He said the decision had to be taken by the DCO and the PDMA director general. In his order, the ombudsman noted that those affected by the floods were being deprived of their right to compensation despite the confirmation of revenue staff and the completion of a survey of losses. He directed the officials to ensure that compensation was given to those affected in the 2014 floods within a month.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2015.