- Says RO plants have started working after release of funds
- Adds that Sindh has built 18 small dams
KARACHI: Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Information, Law and Anti-Corruption Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Tuesday said despite the notices taken on Thar situation by the president and prime minister, no step has yet been taken by the federal government for the relief of drought-affected people.
This he said this while addressing a crowded press conference at his office on Tuesday. He said that Sindh government is taking relief measures on its own.
He stated that on the instructions of the chief minister, he along with Minister for Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh visited Tharparkar to ascertain and ensure smooth relief measures for drought-hit people.
“We went around reverse osmosis (RO) plants, wheat distribution centres, godowns, health centre and Mithi Hospital and met people to become familiar with the ground realities,” he said.
He rejected the reports regarding the distribution of substandard wheat and added that they checked the quality of wheat being distributed and weight of bags during their visit to Thar, which was found to be satisfactory.
Responding to a query, the provincial advisor said that Thar was declared as a calamity-hit area cabinet meeting held on August 19, 2018, after a dire shortage of rainfall.
He said that 366 points have been identified for the distribution of wheat so that people of far-flung areas could get relief easily. Initially, he said, with the help of NADRA, a list of 208,245 families was prepared for wheat distribution.
He said that 67905 more heads of families were being included in the list on the demand of people of Thar as they were not included in the initial list, and in this regard, a summary has already been forwarded for approval from the relevant authority.
To another question, he said that RO plants became non-functional due to delay in the release of funds, however, they have started working from today as communicated by Mirpurkhas commissioner.
Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that there are talks of dams going on in country, adding that Sindh government has completed construction of 18 small dams in the Tharparkar district without any help from the federal government which include Naryasar Dam, Ghartiari Dam, Gordhro Bhatiani Dam, Chanida Dam, Lakar Khadio Dam, Koowara Dam, Jhinijasar Dam, Adhigam Dam, Lakhy-Jo-Wandio Dam, Ranpur Bund, Mulji, Bhodesar Tank, Khararo Bund, Tobirio Tank, Miskeen Jahan Khan Khoso, Bartalao Dam, Kali Das, Vera Wah and others.