HYDERABAD, June 21: The payment of compensation to people affected by last year's disasterous rains in the district has been suspended by the district government reportedly on the directives of the Sindh chief minister.

The distribution of cheques had begun almost a year late after the Sindh government had formed district relief committees with MPAs/MNAs as members. An amount of Rs18.8 million is to be distributed among rain-affected people by the DRC headed by the former adviser to the Sindh chief minister on home affairs, Aftab Shaikh.

The district nazim and Mr Sheikh were scheduled to give away cheques to rain victims of five talukas of the district on Sunday and they had turned up in the Darbar Hall.

They were told that cheques distribution ceremony had been postponed on this they staged a protest demonstration outside the local press club, seeking payment of relief money.

EDO revenue Aftab Memon claimed that DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed had communicated him a directive of the Sindh chief minister not to distribute cheques till further orders.

A revenue official claimed that an amount of Rs18.8 million was allocated for distribution as relief money announced by the former Sindh chief minister for repair of houses, damaged partially or fully.

The money is to be distributed among 4,500 people of six talukas of the district excluding Qasimabad and City talukas. Cheques of Rs7 million have been distributed among the people of Tando Allahyar taluka by Dr Irfan Gul Magsi, a DRC member.

An amount of Rs8,000 and Rs4,000 will be paid for fully and partially damaged house on account of heavy rains. The district government had been complaining that it was being sidelined by the DRC and no intimation was given to regarding distribution of relief money.

District Nazim Makhdoom Rafiquzza man had written a letter to the Sindh government that it was decided that Rs10,000 and Rs5,000 would be paid to owners of fully and partially damaged houses but without informing him the amount had now been curtailed to Rs8,000 and Rs4,000, respectively.

A revenue department official claimed that since the amount was insufficient that was why it had to be curtailed. Some 231, 462, 662, 471, 577 and 359 cheques are yet to be distributed in Latifabad, Hyderabad (rural), Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hala and Matiari talukas, respectively.