MIRPURKHAS, Sept 13: The Mirpurkhas District Council on Wednesday demanded a Rs10 billion package for the district by recent rains. It said interest-free loans should be given to growers so that they could cultivate wheat, cotton and other crops.

The session was presided over by convener Dr Zafar Kamali.

The council demanded compensation of Rs15,000 and Rs25,000 for damages to kutcha and pakka houses, respectively, and removal of encroachments along natural water channels in the district.

The meeting urged Hesco authorities to replace burnt transformer and collapsed electricity polls and shift the division office of the Left Bank Outfall Drain from Badin to Mirpurkhas.

The executive engineer, Mithrao division, Saeed Jagirani, said Rs10 million had been spent on de-silting of canals and distributaries.

Nawab Younus Talpur called for an inquiry by the district government into award of contracts of Rs50 million in the works and services department without approval of the council.

He alleged that Rs4 million of electricity works in the education department had been misappropriated by officers.

The EDO, works and services, Ghulam Mustafa Abro, said a departmental inquiry was being conducted into these complaints.

Muzaffar Leghari said rains had marooned about 400,000 people, who needed government’s help. He said Rs10 million announced by the Sindh government for them was not sufficient.

He urged the government to ensure provision of essential items in utility stores to rain-affected people on 50 per cent discount.

Mir Ali Mohammad Talpur, Mir Zafarullah Talpur, Ali Mardan Shah, Ameer Hassan Khan and Mukhtiar Ali Jarwar demanded supply of drinking water through canals and distributaries to people.