MANSEHRA, Oct 20: Mansehra Tehsil Nazim Mohammad Khurram Hanif Khan said on Thursday that all-out efforts would be made for the rehabilitation of people affected by the earthquake of Oct 8 and reconstruction of the collapsed and damaged houses and buildings.

Speaking at a meeting of tehsil council members and municipal administration employees after assuming charge as the nazim, he said a comprehensive strategy would be devised for the reconstruction and rehabilitation programme. All the resources of the tehsil municipal administration would be utilized for the purpose, he said.

He said the first task was assessment of damage in the 36 union councils of the tehsil. He said a team comprising the tehsil officer, infrastructure, and relevant staff of the administration’s engineering branch would soon be sent to the affected areas for making an assessment of the damage.

He said particulars of the tehsil administration employees affected by the earthquake were being compiled and they would be compensated.

The nazim warned that officials found negligent in performance of their duties would be taken to task.

In the meeting, Mahboob Ali and other council members alleged that the aid had been given in wrong hands and it was not being distributed among the deserving people.

The relief items were being hoarded, they alleged.

They said thousands of people had been affected in Mansehra town and adjoining areas but they had not been approached by the aid agencies.

They said the elected representatives had information about the damage caused by the earthquake and only their involvement could ensure transparency in distribution of relief goods.

They demanded constitution of committees comprising nazims and councillors at union council level for distribution of relief goods.