GHALANAI: The tribesmen of Baizai tehsil have demanded a fresh survey of their destroyed and damaged houses for proper compensation.

They said the houses were damaged or demolished by militants eight years ago.

The demand was made during an open kutcheri held at Ghanam Shan exchange, Baizai tehsil, here on Tuesday, where additional deputy commissioner Syed Saiful Islam was in the chair.

Assistant commissioner of Baizai Asghar Ali, tehsildar Zahid Kamal and representatives of education, health, works and services and other departments were present on the occasion.

Elders Malik Amir Jamal, Malik Fazal Manan, Malik Rehmani Gul, Malik Ghulam Mohammad, Malik Yousaf, Malik Ghulam Mohammad and Malik Sameer demanded compensation for damaged houses, supply of clean drinking water, and provision of staff and facilities in hospitals and schools.

Malik Rehmani Gul of Gadai Tangi area said houses were demolished eight years ago but the government had yet to compensate for it.

Elder Amir Jamal complained about water shortages and said the residents had to fetch water from distant areas. He flayed power outages and insisted that electricity was supplied to the residents only for two hours daily.

The elder also demanded the provision of fertilisers to growers, especially wheat ones. A local resident complained about absenteeism at the Ghanam Shah veterinary centre and Biazai health centres and schools.

The additional DC asked the communication and works, public health and education departments to ascertain the shortage of facilities in Baizai tehsil’s health centres and schools within 10 days.

He also ordered an inquiry into the alleged absenteeism at the Ghanam Shah veterinary centre and said the administration would hold meetings with Tesco and parliamentarians for the resolution of loadshedding issue.

The official later ordered the holding of a cleanliness campaign.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2019