Government doing best despite limited resources

HYDERABAD: Federal Law Minister Maula Bux Chandio has said the government despite its insufficient resources was catering to every aspect of the flood caused calamity. "Beginning from rescue, now we are providing adequate relief which will be followed by rehabilitation phase," he said while addressing a press conference at DCO House here on Sunday.

The federal law minister, who has visited all the flood affected districts of Southern Sindh and would discuss his findings in an upcoming federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, said the disaster was beyond every ones estimates. "Sindh has not seen such torrential rains in the past.

The stagnant rainwater standing on either side of the roads makes one feel that they are travelling along a river," he observed. However, he said, the government had cleared many of such roads like one connecting Tharparker with Badin as well as inter district roads. "Though we are being criticized but no one can claim that we are not doing our bid," he stressed, though adding that the disaster was so huge that the government efforts might be appearing small.

Chandio noted that the flood affected people whose houses were damaged or razed to the ground altogether would be in deep trouble when they returned to their homes.

The minister said keeping such scenario in view, the government was planning for rehabilitation of agricultural communities so that they could again stand on their feet.

"Soft loans free and subsidized agricultural inputs, and waiver of certain taxes, all these measures are part of that plan," he said adding that the people were also being financially supported through Pakistan Cards.

However, in reply to a question about complaints of corruption in issuance of Pakistan Cards, the minister acknowledged that bribery was a menace which pervaded in the whole country.

"But, to cope with it we will have to be vigilant. Citizens shall form committees to report such complaints to the concerned authorities while the media should also keep a check," he advised. To a question about livestock, he admitted that the government was yet to make a collective response to provide feed stock for the farm animals.

Talking about the drainage of stagnant rainwater from the submerged areas, the minister maintained that the water level was decreasing even though the lands had not completely dried up.

"The irrigation expert Idrees Rajput and officials of the concerned irrigation departments are working out and also implementing plans to drain out water from its natural courses," he told.

However, when asked as to why the government was not strictly taking action against squatters who had occupied areas on riverbed, canals and routes of natural flow of drains, the minister clarified that President Asif Ali Zardari had already taken notice.

"Letters have been served to district administrations of all the flood affected parts of Sindh to demolish properties and evacuate lands which are an obstacle in flow of water," he added explaining that in the past governments laxly took such steps but the current situation had necessitated action more than it did in the past. Talking about the post rain situation and flooding in urban areas of Hyderabad, Chandio said the district administration performed well to seep out the water, unlike the past administrations.

"The people who claim of building roads, bridges and laying drainage lines actually complicated matters in the city," he said and gave example of an overhead bridge constructed near Qasimabad which, according to the minister, against its manifested purpose had laid a siege around the town.

"Hyderabad's DCO Ahmed Baksh Narejo had written a letter about that bridge which will be presented to the President," he said but did not tell whether the bridge would be demolished or roads passing from under would be expanded.

In reply to a question about PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif's remarks with reference to the All Parties Conference, held recently in Islamabad, the law minister said there was no reason that one should look askance at the intentions of the government.

"The conference was called to formulate a mutual stand in response to the US allegations on Pakistan. The event served its purpose," he added.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011