09 March 2005	Wednesday	27 Muharram 1426

MINGORA, March 8: The Swat district council on Tuesday expressed concern over problems being confronted by people in areas affected by snowfall and alleged that relief goods were distributed on the basis of political affiliation.

During the council's meeting, the councillors announced donation of their one-month salary to the affected people. Most of the nazims spoke about the misery of the people in the snow-hit areas and accused assembly members of distributing relief goods among members of their parties. They alleged that the deserving people had been neglected. They said people were facing shortage of food and other necessities.

Criticizing the authorities for not giving due coverage to the areas on the electronic media, they said Swat had been allocated less funds than other areas. They said the prime minister visited other affected areas but ignored Swat, which they said, was unjust.

The council asked the assembly members to deliver relief goods among people irrespective of their political affiliations. The nazims said people would not forgive the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leaders if they were ignored.

District Nazim Miangul Asfandyar Amir Zeb said he had discussed the plight of the affected people with the federal government. He said Rs100,000 had been paid to the heirs of each victim and Rs25,000 to each injured.

He said the district government was in contact with the authorities and non-government organizations andmany of them had delivered relief goods to the affected people. He said reconstruction of the Chakdara-Kalam road, supply of gas, resumption of Pakistan International Airlines flights and establishment of a circuit bench in Swat would be discussed with the prime minister soon.

He said tehsildars had been assigned the duty of assessment of the damage so the affected people could be compensated.