BADIN, Aug 22: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar announced here on Friday that the Badin, Shaheed Fazil Rahu and Tando Bago talukas were declared calamity-affected areas.

He also announced that revenue and water taxes were written off and the recovery of the Zarai Taraqyati Bank loans outstanding against the growers of the talukas was postponed.

Speaking at a public meeting, Mr Mahar said the remaining Matli and Talhar talukas would be also declared calamity-affected areas after a survey being conducted there was completed.

He said basic facilities would be provided to the rain victims and they would be provided with relief without any discrimination or political affiliation.

Ordering quick rehabilitation of rain-affected families, the chief minister said his government would compensate the people for the losses they suffered in the recent rains

He said a relief committee, head by MPA Syed Ali Bux Shah, was working in the district to ensure proper and timely distribution of relief goods among the people.

He said officials who showed negligence in relief operation or misappropriated relief goods would be taken to task. He said some officials had already been suspended.

Mr Mahar thanked the president and the prime minister for paying visits to rain-hit Badin and Thatta districts and announcing financial assistance for rehabilitation of the affected people.

However, he said the amount of Rs50 million promised by the Centre was not sufficient to compensate the affected people and repair damaged properties.

He said the Ministry of Zakat and Ushr had been asked to allocate more funds for rain-affected areas as Rs1.5 million it provided was not sufficient.

He assured the gathering that soon after he reached Karachi, he would send more relief items to the Badin district rain victims.

The chief minister distributed cheques among 47 heirs of the people who died in the rains. These included five cheques of Rs100,000 each to bread earners and 42 cheques of Rs30,000 each to depending persons.

Earlier, welcoming the chief minister, Mr Shah demanded that a relief package should be announced for the district.

He stressed that the rehabilitation work should be carried on without waiting for completion of the survey as it would take time.

District Nazim Kamal Khan Chang, who is also a member of the relief committee, did not attend the chief minister public meeting though he received him at the helipad.

Mr Mahar was accompanied by Zakat and Ushr and Religious and Minorities Affairs Minister Dr Irfan Gul Magsi, Industries Minister Usman Malkani, Syed Aijaz Ali Shirazi and others.

Meanwhile, when this correspondent contacted MPA Dr Sikandar Ali Mandhro for comment on his nomination as a member of the relief committee, he said it was too late as one month has passed and there was no need of such a committee.