BAHAWALPUR: Deaths in Thar due to the famine have forced officials here to remain alert about health and living conditions of locals and animals of the Cholistan desert.

The desert has already been facing drought-like conditions for the last several months due to an ongoing dry spell resulting in empty water ponds and unavailability of fodder for animals. This has put the lives of locals and their livestock in danger. Most of the people living around ponds or tobas are now forced to shift to greener areas for access to drinking water and grazing fields.

Dawn learnt that the local administration was aware of the situation and after Tharparkar’s tragedy was reportedly moving vigorously to look after the Cholistanis left behind.

A high-level meeting on Monday with Commissioner Asadullah Khan in the chair took stock of the situation and decided to maintain a liaison with the field staff of the Cholistan Development Authority (CDA) to meet any eventuality.

CDA Managing Director Aftab Ahmed Peerzada told Dawn on Tuesday that although the situation in Thar and Cholistan was different, the CDA was vigilant and closely watching the desert.

According to him, the difference was that Thar had no source of drinking water while Cholistan had a network of water supply lines in some areas and wells of both sweet and brackish water in some pockets. Although there were complaints that the supply lines leaked at certain points, they were still usable.

The MD said migration of locals was a routine during a dry spell either in summer or winter. The Cholistanis preferred to shift to greener areas with abundant drinking water and fodder for their animals. He said special care was being given to both people and livestock for which the CDA had organised free medical camps at Derawar and Bijnot on March 12 (today) and 14, respectively.

He expressed the hope that with the vigilance of CDA’s field staff, the drought-like situation could be dealt with without any loss of life and cattle. He also prayed for the weather conditions in the desert to improve soon.