Rains perish cattle, crops in Thar
MITHI, Aug 7: The recent heavy rains have inundated nine Dehs of Mithi and Diplo Talukas as a result of which many cattle heads were killed and crops were destroyed.
This was stated in a handout issued by the executive district officer (agriculture and livestock) here on Thursday.
It said that two Dehs of Mithi Taluka and seven Dehs of Diplo Taluka had been flooded by rainwater as a result of which 6,300 goats/sheep, 550 cows, 225 buffalos, 30 camels, nine horses, and 425 donkeys were killed, whereas about 12,333 animals were vaccinated against non-contagious diseases by five mobile teams.
The handout further pointed out that 70 per cent cotton crops standing on an area of 2,180 acres, 50 per cent sugarcane on 3,970 acres, 85 per cent chillies on 1,535 acres and 75 per cent of other crops had been destroyed during the rains. However, the rain is likely to prove beneficial for grass, trees and crops in the Barani belts.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT: Dr Sono Khangharani, executive director, Tharparkar Rural Development Programme, said on Thursday that the TRDP had provided cooked food for two days to 2,000 people of Mithi and Diplo, ration for 15 days to 200 families of Badin district who have migrated to Thar after the rains. Tents, beds, and utensils were also provided to 700 stranded families.
Relatives of the six youths, who drowned in the floods in the villages of Kharo Bajir and Malanhore, have been provided ration for a month.
He said that the Tharparkar Rural Development Programme operated boats in the areas of Dadu district where residents had been stranded, and added that it was also trying to provide food and medicines to the victims of the rain in Dadu.
INSENSITIVE OFFICIALS: The councillors and residents of Union Council Malanhore Veena have expressed concern at the apathy of the officials of the district and provincial administration who had not bothered to visit their village where the rains had destroyed properties and crops.
The councillors, Genaram and Dujomal, told this correspondent on Thursday that about 20 houses collapsed and the remaining too were in danger of collapsing as a result of which they were forced to take shelter elsewhere, and added that, however, none of the relevant quarters had bothered to visit the devastated village.
COMPENSATION: The social circles of Thar have urged the government to pay adequate compensation to the bereaved families of various villages where a total of 12 youths had been drowned during the floods.
Talking to this correspondent on Thursday, social workers, Bherji and Vishan, pointed out that five had drowned in the Kharo Bajir village, two in the Malanhore village, two in the Bevato village, two in the Jhapio village, and one in the Mithi town, but the government had not paid any compensation to the affected families.