950806

PM announces

Rs 50m interim

relief for flood

victims

KARACHI: Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto has announced an interim relief grant of Rs. 5 crore for the flood hit people of Sindh and assured that further losses will also be borne by the Federal Government, said Sindh Cultural and Youth Affairs Minister, Mir Ghalib Domki. He was presiding a high level meetng at Jacobabad to revivew the position of flood protective bunds of Thori and Guddu Barrage.

Mir Galib Domki was deputed by the Chief Minister to supervise the rehabilitation work in District Jacobabad after the recent floods. He was informed by the concerned officials that next two days are critical super flood is passing through this area and rise in the water level was expected.

He was informed that in case of any breach the half of Jacobabad district, considerable part of Shikarpur and some parts of Larkana will be affected. Mir Ghalib Domki directed the officials to keep strict vigil till the danger ends.

BR Multan correspondent Maqbool Bukhari adds: President Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari has asked the governments of Sindh and Balochistan to prepare feasible plans to tame the hill torrents to save the people from their ravages and to store the water for drinking as well as irrigation purposes to bring maximum area under plough. Talking to officers of Sindh government in Jacobabad on Sunday after an aerial visit of flood affected areas alongwith a team of Multan journalists president said that both governments should contact Nespak and other agencies to construct mini-dams, raising the protection bunds and strengthening the spurs to save the people from future devastation. He stressed for desilation of canals, water-courses, and distributories and all water-courses breaches. President asked the Sindh cheif minister in a briefing that every possible measures be taken to control the water of Manchar Lake. President Leghari said that 30 percent water courses have so far been desilted in Punjab and 1600 km long breach were matalled. But situation in Sindh is not satisfactory. Now the Sindh government should launch a vigorous "bhal-safai" (desilting) campaign in the province.

He asked the chief minister whether flood-hit areas were declared as calamity-affected areas or not, he responded in affirmative. President said that federal government should issue special as well as emergency grant for the rehabilitation of affectees and infrastructure.

President also visited the flood affected areas of Rangpur this morning. He asked the authorities to increase the death compensation amount from the existing limit of Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 in line with the practice in the NWFP province. He also announced a sum of Rs. one million for the rehabilitation of the affectees of Rangpur area. He said that the Agricultural Development Bank should provide loans to the flood-affectees generouslly Leghari said that the Taqawi loans would be extended to the farmers.

Later President Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari left Multan for Choti (D. G. Khan) by a special helicopter this afternoon. He was seen off at the Multan Airport by the Punjab Parliamentary Secretary, Ishaq Bucha, Commissioner, Multan Division and other civil officials.

BR correspondent Hafeez Shaikh in Hyderabad adds: The pressure on Kotri Barrage is mounting with the increase of over 22000 cusecs of water in River Indus.

According to the flood control cente, the water level at Kotri Barrage during the last 24 hours had increased by 22347 cusecs up-stream and 21225 cusecs down stream the total discharge at 6 p.m. on Sunday was recorded at 511400 cusecs up-stream and 48723 cusecs down-stream. The water guage at Kotri Barrage was recorded at 20 percent. While Dadu-Moro bridge at 129.7 percent.

At Gaddu Barrage the up-stream water level was recorded at 923151 cusecs up-stream and 902025 cusecs down-stream. A nominal decrease of 307 cusces was recorded up-stream and an increase of 250 cusecs down-stream.

At Sukkur Barrage an increase of only 2780 was recorded.

Kandiaro, Muhbat Dero and thousands of other villages of district Naushero Feroz were saved from the dangerous flood threat of Indus River. Following the timely efforts and continuous supervision of Sindh Minister Agriculture Syed Murad Ali Shah by strengthening th main Bakhari Bund where it faced heavy pressure of Indus water however its loop portion was totally damaged and washed away.

Meanwhile, the residents of Goth Mashaikh Hotti, Taluka Tando Allahyar have threatened that the villagers whose crops and homes had been destroyed because of the breach in Noori Minor will stage a protest demonstration in front of CM-House, if an inquiry committee was not appointed to inquire into the causes of the breach and if the growers were not paid compensations for their losses.

ANIMAL VACCINATION

The Livestock Department is facinating in the flood affected areas to guard the animals against various epidemics and has so far immunized 878981 animals, 86451 goats and sheep and 271536 birds. According to a spokesman of the Livetock Department, the department has set up 370 flood relief centres in the flood affected areas and 370 Veterinary Officers are working day and night in these centres. Besides, 878 Livestock Assistants are performing their duties in the First Aid Cenrtres in the low lying and rain affected areas. Besides providing inoculation, 177305 animals have been treated in these flood relief and First Aid Centres. According to the spokesman, a large quantity of medicines and injections are available and no loss of life in the animals has been reported so far and there is no likelihood of any out break of epidemics.

PUNJAB HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

According to a report issued by the Punjab Highway Department in Norowal District Alipur to km 65 of Muridke Norowal Road, Baddomalhi to Akbrian Road km-2, Qila Subasingh to Damthal Road km 16, 18, Qila Subasingh to Bagh road km 1 to 5, Muridke Norowal road km 65 to Badomalhi road to Shamsa Road km-2, Alipur Syedan to Budha Dhola Road km 5, 7 and 8, Darman Dahlra road km 9, Darman Pindi Porpion road km 6 and Budha Dhola to Thana Rayya road km 5, 7 are closed for all kinds of traffic.

WAPDA'S MEASURES

Wapda has taken special construction measures for strengthening Nasret Loop, Akil Agani and Akil Link bunds, Flood Protection Bund (FPB) and Main Nare Valley Drain in Larkana and Dadu to protect the areas from devastation of floods.

Wapda's efforts have been a major factor in safeguarding important infrastructures like canals, railway tracks, roads and telephone lines besides saving human lives, cities of Nau Dero Larkana Johi, Dadu and other towns and vast tracts.

VILLAGES INUNDATED

Seven villages of sub-division Ahmedpure east were inundated as the result of high flood in river Chenab at Head Punjnad. This was stated by Assistant Commissioner Mian Atta Mohammad Zafar while talking to PPI. He said that village Rathonerwali was fully affected by flood while six others are partially inundated. Standing crops were badly damaged in vast area.

DETAILED SURVEY

Provincial Minister for Jails and Population Welfare Choudary Khush Akhtar Subhani has said under the special directives of provincial chief minister a detail survey in flood hit areas would be carried out for ascertaining the exact losses in Sialkot district.

MURTAZA TOUR

Chairman Pakistan People's Party (Shaheed Bhutto) Mir Murtaza Bhutto will undertake an extensive tour of the flood affected areas from August 7 to 23. He will visit Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Noshehro Feroze and Dadu.