UMERKOT: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali on Thursday expressed his outrage over complaints by people affected by rain and flood in Umerkot that they were being fleeced by the “agents” who were supposed to transfer financial aid to individuals’ accounts under the Benazir Income Support Programme. The CM ordered police to get these extortionists arrested and take them to task.

The chief minister heard people’s complaints while visiting different affected areas in Umerkot to assess the situation and inquire from affected families about their wellbeing and issues.

Some women told him that the agents were transferring only Rs22,000 into their BISP accounts instead of Rs25,000. They said when they asked the agents about the deduction of Rs3,000, they described the same as “service charges”.

CM Shah expressed his outrage over the extortion and remarked: “This is unacceptable and uncalled for … I’ll not tolerate this act of fleecing people in distress”. He said it was quite annoying to see that such elements did not spare even homeless and displaced people.

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He discussed the issue with the officials concerned while presiding over a meeting at Umerkot deputy commissioner’s office and asked the Mirpurkhas DIG to ensure that the culprits were arrested and taken to task.

The meeting reviewed the widespread devastation caused by heavy rains and the relief measures taken by the government. It was attended by provincial ministers, Syed Sardar Shah, Nasir Shah, Taimour Talpur, Mukesh Chawla and MNAs and MPAs from the area, besides Commissioner Aijaz Shah, DC Tahir Memon and DIG Zulfikar Mahar.

The meeting also discussed the issue of restoration of natural waterways in the province.

Mr Shah said that a study was conducted after the 2011 floods which had revealed that Rs28 billion were required for the project. “We are working [for the restoration of old and natural waterways] but funds would be arranged through donor agencies,” he said, adding that Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah had already started work on it.

The CM said that his government had ordered procurement of 350,000 tents against a requirement of one million units. “No firm is ready to take the order for immediate delivery. Therefore, brother countries like China, Iran and others are being approached in this regard,” he said.

Some participants of the meeting complained that flood-affected people from Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Badin and Thar had got themselves settled on the sandy dunes of Umerkot. Mr Shah told them: “They are our guests and must be treated decently and respectfully”.

Briefing the chief minister about rainfall in different areas and damage, the Mirpurkhas commissioner said that Umerkot district had received 570mm rains, Kunri 644mm, Samaro 676mm and Pithoro 337mm. Four people died and 10 others injured in rain-related incidents in the district.

The downpour submerged cotton and other crops standing over 88,885 acres, damaged 60,300 houses. As many as 1,135 animals perished in the rain and flooding.

He stated that over 400,000 people were displaced and 4,923 of them had been shifted to 32 relief camps, where regular provision of food and medical aid was being ensured.

The PDMA provided 4,600 tents, 7,000 mosquito nets, 2,500 ration bags, 1,000 Tarpals, 2,200 jerry canes, besides 2,000 mosquito nets for cattle.

In Mirpurkhas district, the CM was told, heavy rains affected 662 dehs. Some 12 breaches developed in drains and they were plugged timely.

The rains also damaged 605.62kms roads, 83 culverts and two bridges.

Referring to the overall situation in Sindh, the chief minister told the elected representatives present at the meeting that he had informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that 308mm more rainfall than normal had been recorded. In August alone, the province received 784pc more rain than average rainfall.

Mr Shah said that 23 districts (101 talukas) had been declared ‘calamity-hit’ areas.

The CM said he told the prime minister that the initial estimate of losses was put at Rs550 billion while 293 unman deaths were registered. Another 836 people sustained injuries.

According to Mr Shah 1.5 million houses collapsed, 9,197 cattle perished, 2,845,046 acre crops submerged and 570 roads damaged in the rainfall and flooding.

Mr Shah said that the repair of damaged road networks in Karachi would cost Rs50 billion.

The chief minister assured the people, particularly affected ones, that they would be looked after properly.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2022