HYDERABAD, Sept 11: The adviser to the Sindh chief minister on local bodies, Mr Waseem Akhtar, and District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil said on Monday that the Sindh governor had formed two committees for relief operation in rain-affected areas.
They expressed the hope that the district government would be able to drain out rainwater from about 95 per cent area in the city in the next seven to eight days.
The release of funds was not a problem for the provincial government as it was working with all available resources, they said.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the local circuit house on Monday, the local bodies’ adviser said the operation committee would look into the requirements of the districts after receiving feedback from the local governments concerned.
“Either it pertained to loaders, excavators or any kind of heavy machinery, it will be provided to the district concerned regardless of the fact that it is purchased or obtained on rent by the government,” said the adviser, adding that the provincial government was closely monitoring everything.
He said the relief committee, to be headed by a senior member of the board of revenue, would help provide food and other logistical support and the operation committee would be headed by the additional chief secretary (local government).
The district, provincial and federal governments were aware of the situation of Hyderabad district, he said and added that draining out of rainwater had been given top priority in Hyderabad district and other departments were on ground.
“We do not deny that people are living in a miserable condition that is why we are with them and have not disappeared,” he said when he was informed about slow or at some level delayed response to the present situation ever since it rained heavily on Friday.
He said that no area was being discriminated against either it was Hyderabad (rural) taluka or Qasimabad, because they were part of Sindh and rain-affected people in any area were being provided relief.
He said that no taluka municipal administration was given funds directly because all funds were available in the provincial relief commissioner’s account and it would be released as per requirement.
He said he himself had visited Tando Allahyar and would also be going to other interior parts of Sindh.