BATTAGRAM: People of Battagram district on Sunday urged the government to conduct fresh survey for distribution of Sehat Sahulat Insaf cards as the earlier exercise reportedly benefited mostly the undeserving people.

They claimed that the previous survey was conducted on the basis of political af filiations.

Mohammad Rehman, a resident of Chapargram, told this correspondent that the survey was conducted to identify and support needy andlow-incomegroups,especially widows, but it was noticed that mostly wealthy people got the health cards.

He demanded that the government conduct a fresh survey to accommodate the deserving people.

The government should probe the matter and bring to book those who are involved in benefitting the undeserving people in distribution of health cards, Jan Mohammad, a resident of Ajmera, said.

Ajun Zaman of Tamai area criticised the government for conducting faulty survey, which ignored the poor people of the district.

It is almost impossible for the poor to bear the expenses on medical treatment. We want the government to give us our right, he demanded.

Sami Rehman demanded of the government to investigate the matter and conduct fresh survey to identif ythe deserving people and f acilitate them on merit.

The government policy to facilitate the poor and deserving people in the Sehat Insaf programme will not materialise until fresh survey was conducted, Abid of Ajmera emphasised.

When we asked the government officials for the faulty survey, they argued that the health cards would be given to those whose names were mentioned the 2009-10 BISP poverty survey, Khani Zaman of Allai tehsil said.

The locals said if the government f ailed to meet their demand then they would take to the streets.

POLLUTED RIVER WATER: Unchecked garbage dumping in the Nendyar River here has polluted the water beyond use.

Moreover, the sewerage line of the district headquarters also empties itself into the river, making it hazardous for human use.

However, people regularly use this water for bath, while many hotels and footpath eateries use it for cooking, washing and drinking purposes. The doctors have time and again warned people against using and even bathing in the river water, but the people are not paying any heed.

With start of Ramazan more and more people could be seen taking bath in the river to beat the heat.

Mohammad Talha, a teenager, told this correspondent that he regularly came to the river for bath along with his companions.