Monsoon soon: Preparations complete ahead of rainy season

DCO says flood relief equipment on standby

BAHAWALPUR/SARGODHA/ DERA GHAZI KHAN: District administrations across the province have completed arrangements ahead of rainy season.

Bahawalpur Operations XEN Islam Mustafa, who has been appointed the flood emergency officer of the district, said on Tuesday that the Irrigation Department had been working on flood-prevention measures in the Bahawalpur irrigation zone. The measures include strengthening vulnerable segments of Minchinabad and Head Panjnad dykes, keeping three engine-propelled boats for flood relief work at Head Islam, Head Panjnad and at Mailsi syphon.

Sargodha Commissioner Nadeem Mehboob chaired a meeting on Tuesday to review flood prevention arrangements in the division.

DCO Saqib Manan said that the district’s flood relief activities had been divided into four sector headquarters.

He said 16 flood relief camps had been established.

The commissioner directed all departments to be prepared for relief operations. He said arrangements to provide food and medicines at relief camps should be completed prior to rainy season. This will be done in collaboration with local philanthropists, he said. He told the Irrigation Department to check weak river banks and to ensure availability of boats in flood-hit areas



The DCO said as many as 91 villages could be affected due to low-level floods near Jhelum River in Bhera, Shahpur and Sahiwal tehsils. He said 128 villages could be affected by mid-level floods and more than 167 villages, home to 258,000 people, could be affected by high-level floods. He said 11 boats, 18 deep-watering seats, 358 life jackets, 48 life rings, two life lines, 9 first aid kits, six rescue bags, seven ambulances and seven fire brigade vehicles would be available for relief operation.

Dera Ghazi Khan DCO Nadeemur Rehman said the district administration was taking steps to protect crops and prevent soil erosion in the wake of possible floods in monsoon season. He said the administration had sought help from locals in this regard.

The DCO was visiting residents of Bait Chainwala who had complained about soil erosion in their area. Rehman said that the government was working on building bunds in sensitive areas to minimise soil erosion. Work on repairing flood bunds was also underway, he said.

The DCO visited emergency wards and departments at the Dera Ghazi Khan Teaching Hospital. He inspected the wards and issued instructions to maintain sanitary conditions.

He said the government was spending billions of rupees on health facilities. “It is our responsibility to ensure that people get the best possible health facilities and free medicines at district hospitals.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2016.