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GB govt held responsible for Hunza deaths |
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ISLAMABAD, Jan 19, 2010: The National Assembly Committee on Environment on Tuesday held Gilgit-Baltistan government responsible for deaths of 19 people in the January 4 massive landslide at Atabad, a small hamlet in Hunza. The landslide also destroyed crop fields, orchards, as well as blocked Karakorum Highway and Hunza River, posing threat to villages in Gojal valley in upper Hunza. The committee took strong exception to Giglit-Baltastan government inaction in this regard, although Geological Survey of Pakistan and FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance had advised evacuation from Sarat. The Committee held the Government of GB responsible for the deaths of the people of Sarat/Hunza. The Committee did not appreciate the more than two-week delay by GB and federal government in requesting China to open the route. Parliamentarians recommended to federal and GB governments to immediately facilitate in opening China border. Parliamentarians also recommended that compensation to the injured and families of dead should be adequately managed. Besides, the affected families should be given an alternative land with full rights including water and grazing. Expressing their shock that even after five years the Ministry of Housing had not distributed seismic zoning of all building codes, the committee ordered implementation plan be managed immediately. The GB government was directed to submit relocation and evacuation plan for all affected areas. It also asked to evacuate Ayeenabad completely. The committee recommended that Disaster Management should be included in Environment syllabus at school and college levels according to the educational levels and media should be used for creating awareness on disaster management. The committee took strong exception to the absence of Cabinet Secretary and Minister as well as GB Chief Secretary and Governor from the meeting.--Dawn
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