News
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Centre releases Rs 700m to GB for Hunza affecteesISLAMABAD: At least 36 villages have been evacuated in wake of the expected devastation by the Hunza landslide lake and the Centre has released Rs 700 million to the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government for rehabilitation and relief work for the affected people of Hunza Nagar. Talking to reporters, Federal Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Manzoor Wattoo said the artificial lake would affect almost 13,000 people and camps had been set up for their partial rehabilitation. He said seven helicopters had been put on standby to tackle any emergencies. Wattoo said a 22-kilometer part of the Karakoram Highway had been washed away by the flooding and had adversely affected Pak-China trade. He said the immediate repair of Karakoram highway was impossible. The minister said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would visit the affected areas once the weather permitted it. Wattoo said the prime minister had announced Rs 100 million to tackle the situation. He said the people living along Neelam River had been warned of the possible destruction and a number of them had moved to their relatives’ houses elsewhere. The minister said the boat service in the lake had been halted due to unfavourable weather and fresh landslides. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk