DADU: Speakers at a seminar held in Khairpur Nathan Shah demanded Rs20 billion for rehabilitation of people af fected by the floods, and asked Sindh government and the Centre to release Rs2.5 million for each deceased person and Rsim to each family for reconstruction of houses.

The demands were made the seminar organised by the Awami Jhamori Party (AJP) on the issue of rehabilitation of KN Shah city and its flood-hit villages, which was attended by people from all walks of life. The seminar held the Sindh government and district administration responsible for the floods.They said measures were not taken to protect KN Shah city, and urged chief justices of the Supreme Court and Sindh High Court to audit funds released for the flood relief of the city and its rural areas.

Advocate Syed Lal Shah said: `Still, three to five feet high flood water was surrounding KN Shah city and rural areas of the taluka, and lamented: `Flood-hit people were suffering from stagnant flood water, but Sindh government was busy earning money in the name of supplying food, water and other basic f acilities to them.

He added that cold weather has multiplied the problems of floodhit people and government must supply blankets, warm clothes and tents to them.Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf local leader Abid L akhiar warned if the flood water would not be drained out, the affected people will stage demonstration before houses of the PPP lawmakers.

Another PTI local leader, Faqir Mohammad Shaikh demanded audit and investigation of funds released to the district administration for relief work.

A civil society activist, Abid Babar said that the federal government and PPP-led Sindh government had not taken any prior measures despite being aware of the climate change issue, and alleged that the people of KN Shah city were not helped in the crisis.

He said that still situation was terrible as the people did not haveresources to rebuild their houses, and added that they were left at the mercy of flood water.

Ghulam Mohammed Leghari, a local leader of the ruling PPP said that not a single house was constructed in the area neither the water was drained out from Gozo, Baid, and Buriro union councils in KN Shah.

Speaking to the seminar, a resident of KN Shah, Irshad Khoso demanded death and house compensations for the flood-hit people.

Civil society activist Gulzar Theabo said that rural areas were still inundated with water, but district administration was only enjoying power.

Ali Gul Khoso, another activist, said that efforts were not made toprotect the 0.4m population of KN Shah, and added that people were sitting under the open sky. He said that the cold weather has increased the problems of the flood-af fected people.

He said flood water standing in rural areas of Mehar and Johi has affected the sowing of wheat and other crops.

Rashid Shaikh, a citizen of KN Shah, said that people did not have water to drink and they were using contaminated water which has resulted in the eruption of water-borne diseases. He said that people need warm clothes, but they don`t have money to buy them.

The speakers also asked SC to direct Sindh government to drain out the flood water.