BADIN - Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah while talking to media here at Badin on Thursday said that though entire country was affected by heavy rains and floods of the current monsoon 2022 but Sindh province was more affected than other provinces adding that Sindh govt never left flood victims alone.
“We need 1.5 million tents after downpour for providing the shelter to the evacuated IDPs of different areas of the province but unfortunately we couldn’t meet the requirements due to delivery issues of the goods,” CM added.
Adding, he told that Badin administration had needs of more than fifty thousand tents for settling the IDPs saying that we were ready to provide them but stock was not available. Chief Minister deplored that they were receiving less items than the requirement adding he termed acceptable concerns of the people of the province regarding the gaps in relief activities. Sindh Govt wants to do developmental work in rural Sindh, CM vowed.
He said that LBOD has mostly affected the people of Badin as it brings the water of different district including Shaheed Benazir Abad, Sanghar, Mirpur Khas and Umerkot district. He said that LBOD was not designed for draining out the rainwater saying that its design of water flow was fixed as 4600 cusec but more than twelve thousand cusec water was crossing through LBOD which unfortunately has created havoc in the district Badin, he expressed.
He told that one breach of the MMD link canal had been plugged but second one yet throbbing the people but he assured that within three days it will be plugged at any cost adding that directed the concerned officers to expedite the work of dewatering activities as the affected people can go back to their dwellings.
CM Murad said that Sindh Govt was working to prepare the strategy and plan that when flood-affected people will go back to their houses, their houses to be rehabilitated properly adding that he said that LBOD had disturbed the natural flow of the drain water.
“We were rich in the wheat production a decade ago but unfortunately now we become its importers due to climate change,” CM deplored.
CM also appealed to developed countries come forward to assist flood affected in such a situation to alleviate the suffering of the flood affected people.
Earlier, CM went to offer condolence with Sami family living in a relief camp along the road side over the killing of their three persons by a loader near Amir Ali Shah village where he announced compensation for the deceased and expressed sympathies with bereaved family.
On the other hand, Deputy Commissioner Badin, Agha Shahnawaz Khan has also briefed the CM Sindh regarding the losses and damages of the district Badin.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in order to witness the plight of the flood-affected people living in the camps and along the roads visited them personally in four districts of Hyderabad division and got cell numbers from one of the affected persons in each camp just to interact them personally.
“I have come here to see you without informing the district administration so that I can witness in which conditions you are living, how much relief goods you are receiving, and how much attention is given to your problems,” he told the affected people. He further added: “now, I am getting your cell number so that I can talk to you personally to know the response of the administration giving to you.”
He started his visit in the Thatta district where he directly went to visit Gel Mori camp, near Pir Patho. He mixed up with the affected people living there and they told him that they were provided with ration bags and water but, doctors visited them only once in the beginning. The chief minister talked to the District Health Officer (DHO) and directed him to ensure visits the camps twice a week.
Mr Shah took the cell number of a resident of the camp and told him he would remain in touch with him to know the issues of the people living in the camp.
On the way to Monarki Bund of the River Indus, the CM seeing school children playing near the road stopped his vehicle and asked them to take him to their school. The children took him to their school – Govt Primary School Gel Mori.
The CM visited different classrooms and sat with children on their [school] bench and interacted with them frankly. The children recited poems for him. The CM asked the children to work harder and attain a higher position through their education.
The children told the chief minister that their school does not have electricity. At this, the chief minister announced to solarise the school and vowed to visit them again.
Murad Ali Shah, after visiting the school went to Gel Mori Basic Health Unit where OPD was in progress. When he reached there around 150 patients, mostly the flood victims were getting checked. The doctor present on the duty told the chief minister that most of the patients were suffering from malaria and skin diseases.
On the last leg of Thatta’s visit, Mr Shah went to the embankment of River Indus known as Gulel Area where a camp was established along the bund. The chief minister met with the affected people and had his blood pressure checked along with their medical check-ups. One of the affected persons told the chief minister that five of the affected persons have died during the last 15 days. At this, the chief minister expressed his displeasure with the DHO and the district administration for not taking proper care.
The CM took the cell number of an elder of the camp to coordinate with him personally. The chief minister asked the elderly person how he was charging his mobile phone. The elderly person told him that he was charging it from a solarized mosque.
The chief minister concluding his visit to Thatta district visited Munarchi embankment of River Indus and the camp set up there. The chief minister at the [Munarchi] camp met with the affected people- personally heard their issues and issued directives for their resolution to the deputy commissioner and DHO Sujawal. He also got a cell number from a flood victim living in the camp for onward interaction.
Sujawal: Murad Ali Shah visited the vulnerable points of Munarchi Bund right from Mile 430 to 450, Spur-T and Spur- J. The concerned chief engineer briefing the chief minister said that the deluge has passed from the bund and its vulnerable points were being stone-pitched. The CM directed the Irrigation official to keep patrolling the embankment. “I am happy that its
The water level was depleting which will ultimately be beneficial to dispose of the water of right Bank.”