“No Federal Assistance for Balochistan”

The Baloch Hal

QUETTA: Focal Person for Flood Relief Operation in Balochistan, Provincial Minister Prosecution Ms Rahila Durrani, has said Federal Government did not provide adequate assistance to flood affected people of Balochistan and all the relief and rescue efforts are being carried out by provincial governments from its own resources and friend countries.

Addressing a news conference at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Thursday, she said that there is immediate need of 50, 000 tents for flood victims in Dera Murad Jamali where she says 450, 000 people affectees forced to live in the open.

“Chief Minister of Balochistan soon will present the case of Balochistan and seek assistance according to losses which the people suffered in flash floods,” she maintained. She also informed that the Council of Common Interest (CCI) will be held in few days in Islamabad.

“MPAs had provided Rs 67 million from their development funds and Rs 250 million from non development funds for the relief operations,” she said adding that so far federal government did not provide any assistance and the relief operations is being carried out from the resources of provincial government and through friend countries.

“Even we, the Balochistan government, have demanded tents for shelterless people which yet to be met and there is also shortage of tents.”

She said that American Ambassador was the first who responded the appeal and visited the devastated regions of Balochistan. The American Government assured their complete support and assistance for relief and rehabilitation process.

“American funds allocated for construction of dams in Balochistan will be diverted to repair the Rabi Canal which was completely damaged in floods,” she said adding that the Ambassador also assured that American Government will provide the assistance to repair the roads and other communications means which were washed away by hill torrents and unprecedented floods.

“It was massive destruction and government is making all out efforts to cope with the situation,” she said adding that we can’t say that 100 per cent affected people are getting relief but ensure that efforts are underway to provide each and every people with relief goods.

Minister Prosecution said the Health, Irrigation and Education departments had been asked to prepare their plans for flood affected areas on emergency basis so that the rehabilitation process could take place because so far government is busy in relief operations.

She said that Hairdin project, pumping out saline water from the area to outfall drain, has been completely destroyed. It was one of the most prestigious projects in the past government and remained operational for more than three decades.

Responding a query, Chairman Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Tahir Minhas has said that floodwater is still flowing thus it is impossible to drain out floodwater from the affected areas. However he said heavy pumps and other machineries had been sent and it would take few days to initiate work. He also informed that plugging in Tori Bund had not started because 550, 000 cusec water is passing through Guddu Birrage. He said once the flow of water decline than plugging the Tori Bund take place.

Commissioner Quetta Division Naseem Lehri has said that there are some seasonal beggars also taking the advantage the situation. “May be there are ten percent who are holding protest for shelter and relief but majority of them seasonal beggars,” he said adding that he had established several camps in Quetta for displaced persons and also registering the affected people. Local administration also caught some people buying tents and relief items, he added.


http://thebalochhal.com/2010/09/no-federal-assistance-for-balochistan-rahila/