Reconstruction activities have gained momentum in the flood-hit districts of Nowshera and Charsadda as people are looking busy in rebuilding their destroyed and damaged houses on self-help basis.
Villagers of the worst-hit Mohib Banda, Dheri Mian Ishaq, Pashton Ghari, Azakhel, Nowshera Kalan, Pir Sabaq have started reconstruction of houses on self-help basis and are looking for help from Allah Almighty.
Some well-off villagers are bringing stones and bricks to lay foundation of their houses but cost of construction material is beyond the purchasing power of poor, salaried and middle class. Stones, bricks and steel costs have registered unprecedented increase and are thus out of reach of many people.
Some 3,000 bricks, being sold for Rs9,000 before the floods, are now available at Rs15,000 in addition to a transport cost of Rs2,000. Consequently, owners of tractor trolleys and trucks have also increased their fares.
Misal Khan, a retired government official whose house was badly damaged by floods in Dheri Mian Ishaq village in Nowshera, said prices of construction material has been increased and poor labourers and low-grade salaried class could not afford to buy it. Government, he added, has given Rs20,000 to flood-hit people for construction of houses through Watan Card, which is like a teardrop in the sea.
"Generally speaking, only 4,000 bricks could be purchased with Rs20,000; from where a poor man will purchase cement, steel, stones etc for rebuilding his house," he questioned. He urged government to immediately release Rs 100,000 for the flood hit people so that they could construct at least a room.
Moreover, the arrival of winter season has added to the miseries of the flood-hit people. Cold increases during the night in the villages located on the embankments of River Kabul and people could not even afford to buy a blanket for themselves.
Masood Khan, a hair dresser, whose house was completely washed away by July 29th record breaking floods, said he has nothing to build a house for his big family and they are sleeping under open sky. "My children shiver in cold during nights and repeatedly ask for a warm room. However, I have no money to build at least one room for them," he said as tears rolled down his cheeks.
He further said the process of distribution of Watan Cards among the affectees is very complex, adding that registration by National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and district administration is needed to be streamlined.
"Most of the people at Mohib Banda, Amankot and Pasthoon Ghari in Pabbi are visiting Nowshera for obtaining Watan Cards but they return empty handed", he said adding that there is a lot of rush at distribution points and especially sick and elders are facing great difficulties in acquiring the cards.
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