Says DCs may use up to Rs10 million from Rs544m fund for district administrations. PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to divert the Annual Development Programme (ADP) funds, if need be, to the relief operation in calamity-hit areas.
“The death toll is crossing 185, over 1,500 people have been injured and 2,097 houses have been demolished,” Spokesperson for K-P and Special Assistant to CM Mushtaq Ghani told journalists at a media briefing on Tuesday. “The magnitude of disaster is huge and if needed, the government will not hesitate to divert ADP allocations to relief work.”
Resource allocation
Ghani said seven teams of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority are working in affected districts to urgently identify needs of the survivors and to carry out rescue activities.
“An MI-17 helicopter has been given to the PDMA; it is being used for rescue and relief work.”
He maintained all district administrations have been directed to use available resources to provide relief to the affected population. “An amount of Rs544 million is at the disposal of district administrations and a deputy commissioner may use Rs10 million from the available funds if need be.”
Ghani told the media PDMA has Rs1.5 billion in its account which will also be used in case of need.
“Every district of the province has been affected but Malakand is the worst-hit,” said Ghani, adding that the death toll is increasing as certain areas still difficult to be reached. “Roads leading to several areas hit by the earthquake are unpaved which is why the figures [of the deceased and injured] might have increased.”
Access to areas
Ghani said the government was acting on information given by the police and locals regarding need for aid. “We have not received any reports about places where people are stranded in large numbers or buried under rubble, but if reported the government has trained teams to rescue them.”
According to Ghani, Punjab PDMA and State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Azad Jammu Kashmir and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) teams as well as NGOs are also taking part in the relief operation.
So far, the government has sent 30 trucks filled with relief goods to the affected areas. This includes 2,000 blankets, the same number of tents and 1,000 food packages.
To a question regarding international NGOs having issues getting permission from the interior minister to reach K-P, Ghani said such issues have been resolved. He added the humanitarian organisations wanting to help could contact PDMA officials, as tents and food are needed in affected areas.
Compensation
“As per the compensation policy of the K-P government, families of the deceased will be provided with Rs300,000 and each injured person would be given Rs100,000.”
Regarding funds for damages, Ghani said Rs100,000 would be given to those whose houses — with two or more rooms — were destroyed. While Rs80,000 would be given in to those whose one-room house is destroyed.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2015.
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