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| Fears, hope mark launch of damage assessment in Swat |
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Friday, November 06, 2009
Delawar Jan
PESHAWAR: The government Thursday launched a survey for the assessment of houses damaged during violence and military operations in the militancy-hit Swat district amid mixed feelings of hope and despair.
After securing peace, the government is accelerating efforts to launch reconstruction and rehabilitation process in Swat where private property and infrastructure of education, health and communication have badly been affected. The militancy has also ruined agriculture, tourism and business sectors.
To compensate for the losses to private property, a damage assessment survey was launched on Thursday in which data about destroyed or partially damaged houses would be collected. The government has formed 65 survey teams that would go door-to-door across the valley to complete the process of damage assessment. The survey team consists of a patwari, an army man and one or two area elders.
“The survey was not launched in a particular area of Swat but across the valley simultaneously,” an official of the Provincial Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority (PaRRSA) told The News. The campaign is the first step towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Swat after the restoration of peace, a goal that seemed impossible till May this year.
The government has issued no objection certificate to 67 NGOs to work in 86 sectors in Swat. The Swat valley and other districts in Malakand division suffered Rs86 billion losses. The launch of the drive drew mixed reaction. Some described it a crucial development and said it would inspire hope among the people. But others feared that the government might not do justice to the people in assessing damage to their property.
“I am afraid the people will not get full compensation as a result of this assessment,” said district nazim of Swat, Jamal Nasir. His house was also destroyed by Maulana Fazlullah-led militants. He threatened to approach court if the people were offered uniform amount of compensation, which according to him was Rs100,000 for partially damaged and Rs300,000 for destroyed houses. He asked the government to compensate people in line with the damage caused to their houses. He said the government should not allow the militants to rebuild their houses rather their lands should be confiscated.
Despite expressing observations, the district nazim said the initiation of survey was a step forward towards stability of Swat. “It will not be fair if we are offered an amount not sufficient for the reconstruction of our house,” Safdar of Kabal village, whose four-room house was razed to the ground during operation, said.
A known figure of Mingora, Ziauddin Yousafzai, said the survey would create hope and confidence among the people. He saw damage-assessment drive a positive step. Sikandar, whose house was razed to the ground, said he would be happy if the government provided partial support. “It’s not possible for the government to give the full compensation for damage to houses,” he remarked.
NWFP Environment Minister Wajid Ali Khan, who hails from Swat, said the government had achieved the first goal of securing peace and was now inching towards the other objectives-reconstruction and rehabilitation. “There are a lot of problems but I can assure you that deserving people will get their rights,” he added.
The minister said the initiation of reconstruction and rehabilitation process would generate job opportunities, economic activities and social development. He claimed civilian administration had started taking control of the situation in the valley and that basic facilities to the people had been provided.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
