MITHI: Much of the huge stock of wheat meant for free of cost distribution among deserving Thari families has been destroyed or badly affected by rains, pests and weevils, it is learnt.

The stock was meant for distribution in the 11th phase of the scheme launched by Sindh Senior Minister for Food and Parliamentary Affairs Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on June 24. It was announced that the revenue and food officials concerned would distribute wheat bags weighing lookg each among 287,964 families living in around 2,500 villages of Tharparkar district that had beenfacing a drought-like situation due to poor rainfall over the past few years.

However, the officials failed to fulfil their responsibilities as per the directives issued by the chief minister. The scheme was supposed to be executed by Mr Khuhro, who is also the Sindh president of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party.

Mr Khuhro had held out the assurance that all deserving (listed) families would get their share in the wheat before Eidul Fitr. However, most of the families were yet to get the relief even before Eidul Azha, which is approaching fast.

A survey of various villages suggested that thousands of wheatbags handed over to the revenue/ food officials for distribution in their respective areas were destroyed during rains over the last two months as the stocks were lying in the open or makeshift godowns.

Sources in the two departments claimed that the Tharparkar deputy commissioner had devised a new mechanism dif ferent from the one that was in practice in the past.

However, it did not work well with the result that the stocks were exposed to heavy rain, pests and weevils.

Many of the affected villages appeared not aggrieved by the deprivation of their share in wheat, arguing that sufficient rainfall across the interior of Sindh thisseason was very likely to save them from a drought-like situation and wheat flour shortage, in the months to come. They said they would not even opt for the free wheat bags.

Still, hundreds of other families were desperately seeking the relief wheat. They said the chief minister and top PPP leadership must take notice of the inordinate delay in the distribution process and negligence leading to the destruction of the stocks.

Some other sources revealed that awarding of contracts for the transportation of wheat bags was another bone of contention between the officials concerned and senior PPP leaders of the areas where the distribution was to be made.Tharparkar DC Dr Abdul Hafeez Siyal had invited tenders twice for the contracts but due to his apparent differences with certain PPP leaders, no party approached his office for a contract, according to a reliable source.

As per the past practice, wheat bags were supposed to be delivered to the beneficiaries at their doorsteps but the revenue officials and PPP leaders concerned had different views on the point, he said, adding that the officials wanted to save money to be incurred in the home delivery.

Many attempts were made by this reporter to seek comment of the DC over the issue on Tuesday but all in vain.