MITHI, Oct 17: The Tharparkar district council has urged the government to declare the district a calamity-hit area and also announce relief measures.

This demand was made through a resolution moved by Kirshan Lal Rathi which said that erratic and scanty monsoon rains have damaged crops and grass, consequently there is acute shortage of grain and grass in the region. He said that drought-like conditions have created numerous hardships for the people as a result it has become too difficult for them to keep the pot boiling. Hence, he said, the government should take notice of prevailing conditions and to declare Tharparkar as a calamity-hit area.

Supporting the resolution, Abdul Subhan Sodho, Dost Ali and Maturam Bhagat said that life in Thar entirely depended on rain and failure of expected second monsoon rain spells here has created a drought-like situation and delay in initiating relief measures by the government can cause more havoc.

The council passed the resolution unanimously.

Speaking on a point of order, Maturam Bhagat demanded that the sale of flour and other items at Utility Stores be made under the supervision of council members and the UC nazims.