Report: ANI Correspondent:
THARPARKAR — Sindh Assembly Member Surendar Vilasai has expressed concern over inadequate and irregular monsoon rainfall in Tharparkar and urged the Sindh government to immediately assess the situation and declare affected areas drought- or disaster-hit where they meet the prescribed criteria.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary Sindh, Vilasai said a large portion of the district’s population depended on rain-fed agriculture, livestock and seasonal grazing for their livelihoods. He said the shortage of rainfall was affecting crops, livestock, drinking water supplies and employment opportunities.
He called for a taluka-wise assessment of rainfall, crop and livestock losses, drinking water availability and grazing conditions, followed by timely relief measures.
Vilasai demanded free wheat and essential food items for vulnerable families, emergency drinking-water arrangements, including water tankers, and the establishment of fodder banks and emergency fodder distribution centres.
He also called for mobile veterinary teams in remote desert areas to provide livestock vaccination, medicines and treatment, besides urging the relevant departments to take emergency steps to ensure water supplies.
The MPA proposed a district-level drought monitoring and relief mechanism under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner to ensure timely assistance to affected communities.
Vilasai said the people of Tharparkar should not have to wait for the situation to develop into a humanitarian crisis, stressing that early assessment would enable preventive and relief measures before conditions worsen.
