THATTA, Aug 24: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Thursday declared Jati, Shah Bunder, Keti Bunder and Kharochhan talukas, severely affected by torrential rains as calamity-stricken areas.

Five other talukas of the district were declared partially calamity-hit.

He was talking to reporters at the Police Lines helipad following his whirlwind tour of rain-hit Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar and Badin districts.

The chief minister said that some talukas in Sanghar, Tharparkar and Badin districts had also been declared completely and partially calamity-stricken.

He said that those who lost their lives in rains would also be compensated accordingly and the revenue department was preparing a survey report to compensate damages to properties.

On a demand of adviser to Sindh Chief Minister for forests, Aijaz Shah Shirazi, Mr Arbab directed DCO Usman Panhwar to make a plan for regularisation of forty villages on Makli hill and its vicinity.

He asked the DCO to prepare and send a plan for a journalist colony in Makli.

Our Badin correspondent adds: The Sindh chief minister on Thursday declared three talukas of Badin district as calamity-hit areas.

He ordered survey of Shaheed Fazil Rahoo and Talhar talukas for damages and losses occurred during recent rains.

The chief minister after taking aerial views of the coastal area and the LBOD in the Badin district was talking to journalists at the circuit house.

He said that the government would not leave alone rain and flood-affected people.

He declared Badin, Tando Bago and Matli talukas as calamity-hit.

He said that land revenue and abiyana (water charges) would be exempted.

He said that there was no need of waiving off the loans.

He expressed satisfaction over the construction work of LBOD banks carried out by the army.

He said that no breach occurred in the LBOD in Badin district.

When asked that in the past land revenue was recovered forcibly from rain-affected people of calamity declared areas even after announcement of calamity by the government, Dr Arbab said that the government would implement his announcements.

The chief minister said that he would recommend the federal government for agriculture relief package to rain-devastated areas.

Our Mirpurkhas correspondent adds: The Sindh chief minister on Thursday announced Rs10 million each for Mirpurkhas and Sanghar districts to help them launch relief work and provide ration and other facilities to rain-affected people.

He said that all possible efforts would be taken to provide relief to affected people.

He was speaking to elected representatives, notables and farmers in Kot Ghulam Mohammad on Thursday.

He took an aerial view of Umerkot district and Kot Ghulam Mohammad taluka of the Mirpurkhas district.

The chief minister declared Kot Ghulam Mohammad taluka as calamity-hit.