GUJRAT: The Punjab government has introduced a policy which entitles families of at least 73 flood-hit villages in Gujrat for the cash compensation.

In the first phase, Rs25,000 will be given to each family (prior to Eid) of 23 villages which are affected at least 40 per cent and above in the recent floods.

A door-to-door survey to ascertain the exact number of families in 23 villages is likely to be completed by Tuesday (today).

In the second phase, each family in six villages affected from 25 to 39pc will get Rs20,000 after the Eid while the same amount will be given to each family of 44 villages affected up to 24pc in the third phase.

DCO Liaquat Chattha said 73 villages in the Gujrat district had been affected by the recent flood while 26 teams were busy in conducting the survey of families.

He said even family not affected by the flood in 23 villages will also get Rs25,000 each while losses of standing crops, animals and damage done to their houses would separately be compensated later on.

BAN IMPOSED: The district government has imposed a complete ban on parking of trucks, mini-trucks and pick-ups along the 14kms area of old GT Road.

A notification to this effect was issued by District Coordination Officer Liaquat Ali Chattha here on Monday.

The step is taken after receiving public complaints as the parking of such vehicles is causing traffic jams and noise pollution, particularly at a stretch of some seven kilometers from the industrial estate area to the Rehmania Bridge.

Earlier, the district government had imposed a ban on the parking of such vehicles on greenbelt areas along the old GT Road some five months ago.

ESTABLISHED: The district administration has established a video conferencing hall at the District Government Complex for briefings to the chief minister, the chief secretary and other hierarchy in the provincial government.

An official said that Rs10 million had been spent on the purchase of the latest equipment whereas the meeting hall adjacent to the Additional District Collector’s office had been turned into a video conference hall.

A 55-inch television screen, a latest video camera, furniture and other necessary equipment have also been installed.

DO (Coordination) Shuja Qutab Bhatti briefed Punjab minister Shuja Khanzada for the first time from the video conference room and also updated the provincial government about relief activities in flood-hit areas of Gujrat.

District government’s information technology officer Muhammad Danish Mirza has been posted as the caretaker and operator of the video conference hall.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2014