My article" Mahmood Kot after the Floods,published by Daily News

Mahmood Kot after the floods Heavy rains in Swat in July 2010 and its aftermath By TARIQUE KHAN JAVED Mahmood Kot and areas around it located between Muzzaferghar and Kot Addu were one of the worst effected areas in the 2010 floods. Muzzaferghar canal broke its bank and water rushed sweeping away houses, cattle and people around 7th August 2010. The heavy rains in Swat around 26th July had already devastated KP and water was approaching down stream. Yet no precaution was taken nor people warned adequately. The weather station of Malam Jabba which could have warned the people of impending disaster was closed for security reasons and KP, in particular Charsadda suffered a lot. Enough time was available between water destroying Charsadda and MAHMOOD KOT but authorities were least concerned and left people at the mercy of nature.Is this a proper and responsible behavior of a nuclear power state in this age of Google and Satellite technology? One can ask reasonably. People fled almost at the last moment leaving behind every thing including cash necessary for survival. Thankfully they had mobiles with few minutes of power and balance left which enabled them to inform of their plight to their dear ones elsewhere in the country. Relatives and friends rushed balances for their mobile phones and funded them through easy paisa before embarking on physical relief efforts. Most people reached the safety of Muzafferghar where private and Government relief camps were set up. NGOs proved to be the most effective force in particular NGOs from Turkey at least for this area. When Muzzaferghar itself was threaten and it's low lying areas became submerged people had to move again as far as Layyah and Multan. The constant moves took their tool and many weak ones perished. Government announced payment of Rs one lac for each effected family through WATAN CARD. How only Rs. 20,000 has been paid so far. That too many did not get. People are expecting to get the remaining Rs. 80,000 by 15th Dec 2011. But I have my doubts. I did not see any houses built by Government in this area at least. Hats off to NGOs particularly Turkish: If it was not for NGOs to come to the rescue of the uprooted shelter less people of the, they would have destroyed. But the Turkish and other NGOs are busy even right now complete model villages, modern schools, madarsas, clinics and impressive mosque. Their work around MAHMOOD KOT is so impressive that people of the area have become indebted in gratitude for ever. The side effect of the floods is that the relatively less futile land of the Area has become very fertile. The soil color has become almost black. Water table has been raised considerable thus reducing the cost of boring for water and pumping it out. It can said that with the help of NGOs, who also provided Micro credit, the general condition of the people of the area has improved in Dec 2011 compared to what they had in August 2010. Sugar Cane issues: People of the area have moved to cultivating sugar in a big way and even now rows and rows of sugar cane farms can be seen while lot has been cut and sent to sugar mills already. If price of Sugar cane is not dropped substantial as is being feared, farmers can get good income to improve their lot. However I was told that price is already cut to half of last years level by the cartel of Sugar Mill lobby. Wheat issues: Plantation of wheat has started in earnest and people are hoping that Government will buy their stock at the improved price of Rs 1050 per mound. Let's hope the problems of last years in terms of actual purchasing is not repeated and. condition of lot of the farmers is improved. However people expect that Government will not by much and they will be forced to sell their wheat for as low as Rs.800 per mound to traders. Conclusion: The massive losses of floods of 2010 were largely avoidable in a modern welfare state. Not working of Malab Jabba and other weather stations is not excusable. Time between 26th July when heavy rains struck Swat and 7th August when water reached MAHMOOD KOT was enough to prepare a response. The fact that it was not is also not excusable.Tall claims of rehabilitation effort by Government in press and not delivering in practice is also not excusable. Political parties responsible for this apathy should pay a price in next election. On the one hand NGOs effort are making houses and giving Micro credit even right now laudable. While for media and Government this is dead story Turkish NGOs are busy rehabilitating the people in the area. I beg the Government to at least release the promised Rs 80,000 overdue under the WATAN CARD. Let the Government make the expectation of the people that the payment will come by 15th Dec come true and close the file.