GUJRAT: Many residents of the villages surrounding the Gujrat side of the Chenab are allegedly trying to cash in on the flood compensation spree by claiming relief despite having lost nothing.

It is learnt that representatives of political parties, social organisations and the administration are going the extra mile to placate the flood-hit. The district authorities have distributed relief goods even in the areas where these are not necessary simply out of fear of the Punjab government.

Sources say the recipients of the official tents have been found involved in selling them in the open market at Rs60,000 each. A survey says the number of damaged houses in Gujrat is around 700 but the district government has distributed 1,000 tents in 72 villages of Gujrat tehsil, they say.

Sources say the number of applicants for the tents is increasing day by day despite of the fact that the authorities have already distributed excessive tents.

An official says two to three dozen people are daily applying for tents for the last one week.

A local PML-Q leader, Imranullah, a resident of Gurala village on Gujrat city outskirts, says the government has distributed flour bags and other items (four truck load) in his village though there has been no damage here. On the other hand, he alleges, many affected places are awaiting relief goods.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, senior PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi and other politicians have visited the affected areas.

SURVEY: A fresh survey to ascertain the exact number of the houses damaged by the recent flood in the Chenab is being carried out as the provincial government has pledged to release the compensatory amount to rebuild the damaged houses before Eid.

Gujrat DCO Liaquat Ali Chattha told Dawn that at least 24 officials of the provincial and district governments were carrying out a survey of the damaged houses. He said the survey team was taking pictures of the damaged houses besides collecting other necessary data required for the purpose.

He said crops over at least 18,000 acres of agricultural land had been affected by flood in 34 villages.According to earlier survey conducted by the district government till Sept 7, the number of damaged houses was 709 out of which seven were washed away and rest of the houses were partially damaged. The losses occurred in four villages on Tanda side downstream of the Marala Headworks.

The DCO denied reports about wrong distribution of relief goods.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2014