CM forms committee for assessing losses in flood affected area

Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab has constituted a 14-member committee headed by Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah Khan for assessing the financial and human losses due to rains in Bahawalpur and DG Khan Divisions and payment of suitable financial assistance and compensation to the affectees which will submit its recommendations within a week to the Chief Minister. After that affected villages will be declared calamity-hit areas for providing financial assistance and rehabilitation of affectees, agri-income tax, water rate and waiving of abiyana. This committee will submit its recommendations for the harvesting of next crop for affected farmers having 12.5 acre of land whereas a report will also be prepared for providing health facilities.

First meeting of this committee was held today under the chairmanship of Law Minsiter Rana Sanaulalh Khan at Punjab Assembly. The members of the committee were told that a comprehensive survey of flood stricken areas of Rajanpur and DG Khan will be carried out and information regarding losses at urban and rural level will be collected. The committee will formulate separate report about the losses at urban and rural areas with the help of administration of affected areas so that these could be declared calamity-hit. He said that free seed would be provided to the farmers having upto 12.5 acre of land. The committee was informed that federal government would be stressed to immediately complete the project of Kachi Canal at DG Khan as the contractors have created hurdles in the flow of water in DG Canal by constructing small dams which caused flood and the water of the canal entered in the city.