MITHI, Feb 28: The Tharparkar District Council has demanded an investigation into embezzlement of wheat bags, meant to be distributed among the drought-hit poor people.

In its Wednesday session, the district council also urged the authorities to take a notice of irregularities in distribution of Zakat funds, destruction of bdellium trees, delay in issuance of computerized National Identity Cards and encroachments in Islamkot.

Speaking at the session, Abdul Raheem Khoso and others said that some powerful individuals had embezzled thousands of relief wheat bags and consequently deprived the poor families of assistance they badly needed.

They demanded that a high level inquiry should be conducted against the wheat embezzlement.

Other members alleged that the revenue officials were also involved in the embezzlement

The DCO, Tharparkar, Allah Warayo Mallah assured that action would be taken against those who had embezzled the relief wheat.

Moving another resolution, Abdul Raheem Khoso said that a large number of bdellium trees had been destroyed, particularly in Karoonjhar Mountains and its surrounding areas, by henchmen of some vested interests, who were using chemical for extracting gum from branches and trunks of trees.

He said that sale of bdellium gum was a source of earning for Tharis but the artificial and harmful method of applying chemical in the cuts made at the branches and trunks of the tree was destroying the trees.

The DCO assured that an investigation would be conducted into the matter.

Poonjomal urged the district government to ensure the issuance of the NICs to Tharis.