July 31, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1424

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PESHAWAR, July 30: The NWFP government has earmarked Rs10m for its flood disaster wing so that it can extend relief to the people in case they are hit by flood during the upcoming monsoon season in the province, according to official sources.

“The money allocated under the current financial year’s budget of the province would be released to the flood relief commissioner to meet expenditure requirements whenever they arise,” a government functionary told Dawn.

In view of the large-scale destruction brought on by recent years’ flood season, the amount specified for the year 2003-04 appears to be much less than the expenditure requirements the province might have to confront in the coming days.

“We would certainly need funds much more than the amount allocated for the flood relief activities,” said an official concerned of the government of NWFP.

Flash floods and heavy rains caused widespread destruction in the districts of Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Dir Upper and Dir Lower in August last year and then in January this year. The claims received by the provincial government for payment of compensation money to the people affected by the floods were calculated to be around Rs130m.

However, the cash-starved provincial government failed to arrange the required funds as a result of which a majority of the affected families did not receive payments, and are still waiting for these to be made.

According to official sources, the provincial government paid compensation only to some of the affected families who suffered human losses.

“There are no funds to pay compensation to those who suffered property losses,” said the official holding important office.

Against the Rs130m required by the provincial government to pay compensation during the 2002-03 financial year, it could arrange only Rs18m.

“The government even could not fulfil its commitment viz-a-viz payment of compensation to those who had lost their near and dear ones due to floods,” said the official.

“This is despite the fact that the chief minister had announced that instead of Rs50,000, a sum of Rs100,000 would be paid to the grieving families for every ‘breadwinner’ lost,” he added.

As per the rates of compensation determined in 1997, the family of the breadwinner — expired due to floods — is supposed to be paid Rs50,000 per person (breadwinner) lost.

However, in line with the NWFP chief minister’s announcement the families of all those killed in floods in last January and afterwards would be paid Rs100,000 as compensation for every ‘breadwinner’.

“Several of the grieving families have yet to get the compensation money,” said the official.