MIRPURKHAS, Feb 6: Flour crisis continues in the district in the wake of non-availability of wheat bags in godowns of the food department causing closure of hundreds of 'chakkis.'
Hundreds of 'chakkis' in Pithoro, Samaro, Kunri, Kot Ghulam Mohammad and Digri talukas had been closed after they were not provided the required number of wheat bags by the food department, whereas many 'chakkis' owners were selling flour at high rates, Rs13 and Rs14 per kg. They were also selling flour mixed with rice dust.
In Mirpurkhas taluka, 'chakkis' were selling flour at Rs12 per kg while shopkeepers, who were purchasing flour at Rs12 per kg on retail rate from flour mills were selling flour at Rs13 per kg.
Food department officials were avoiding legal action against the flour mills not following the government directives as they were bound to sell flour at wholesale rates to shopkeepers.
The food officials have also been sent to Punjab to procure wheat for Mirpurkhas as the Sindh government made arrangement for the district.
COMPENSATION: Compensation to the rain-affected people for their damaged property in the area will be made soon as the provincial government has released half of the promised grant, sources said on Friday.
Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism Shabbir Ahmed Qaimi would preside over a meeting of the district relief committee on Saturday to review preparations for the distribution of compensation cheques.
Revenue department had conducted a survey to prepare a report determining loss of lives, number of injured people, damage to crops and properties.
CHARGE-SHEETS: The Hyderabad RPO has issued charge-sheets to Digri SHO Zakir Ahmedani and investigating officer Mureed Mangrio after receiving a letter from the Mirpurkhas DPO.
The DPO had complained that Mr Mangrio had spoilt a kidnapping and rape case and the SHO had verified his report. Two months back, unidentified persons had abducted a six years old daughter of Muneer Arain in Kot Ghulam Mohammad and criminally assaulted her.
After registration of a kidnapping case, the investigation officer arrested a suspect, Javed Kaimkhani, but did not get his medical examination although medical examination of the girl confirmed that she was subjected to sexual assault.Mr Mangrio did not incorporate relevant section of rape in the FIR either.