Rehabilitation steps for flood victims: Sindh government told to present detailed report

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Sindh government to present a detailed report, to the court, within three weeks, regarding steps taken for rehabilitation and reconstruction of devastating flood victims. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary was hearing a petition filed by a former member of the National Assembly, Marvi Memon, regarding non-implementation of Flood Commission's report in Sindh.
Additional Advocate-General, Sindh, presented report regarding implementation of Flood Commission's compliance report, assuring the court that all-out efforts are underway to provide relief to the affected people. Besides, the provincial government is providing food to flood victims, he added.
He informed the bench that a huge population of rural Sindh had been affected which hampered the government in carrying out the relief activities. The AAG said that the flood had played havoc in the province, destroying crops and livestock worth billions of rupees.
"The government had to face billions of rupees loss due to heavy rains not only in terms of ready crops but livestock also....but we are determined to provide relief to people, and every possible step is being taken to provide relief to people", he said. When asked how much time is required for rehabilitation of flood affected people, the Advocate-General said that standing water in residential areas would be drained out in about 45 days, and then after rehabilitation work could be started.
In its previous hearing, the court had directed to implement Flood Inquiry Commission's recommendations in letter and spirit and sought report over the steps taken by the government for rehabilitation of flood affected people in Sindh. The bench had also turned down Sindh government's assessment report on the devastation caused by floods, with directive to present another report based on facts. The federal and Sindh governments were asked to inform the court whether last year's flood inquiry commission's recommendations were implemented. The court adjourned the case for three weeks.