There is a need to develop a comprehensive and workable Flood Management Plan with redefining the role of DDMA
QUETTA: Over the last 20 years, the frequency of natural disasters has been increasing at an alarming rate all across the world. Global warming, changing weather patterns, rapid urbanisation, pollution and industrialisation are common factors that impact ecological systems. Pakistan is one of the most disaster-prone countries of South Asia. Its geographical location, diverse terrain and peculiar climatic conditions make it vulnerable to various forms of disasters. Pakistan continues to suffer from a plethora of natural and human induced hazards that threaten to affect the livelihoods of its citizen. During the last 50 years about 162 natural disasters have killed 106,036 people while affected 88,140,223, respectively. This is a very large number and has a major implication on the growth and development of the country. Punjab province is vulnerable to floods, flash floods and urban flooding while a significant proportion of Punjab’s population is dependent on agriculture. Reverine floods pose flood risk to all districts of Punjab lying on the banks of the rivers whereas flash floods pose a risk to D G Khan, Rajanpur and Mianwali districts in the shape of hill torrents and urban flooding.
District D G Khan is one of the districts which have faced unprecedented and historic floods. Due to its peculiar layout it is affected by water flow from the Indus River as well as the flash floods caused by hill torrents from the Koh- e-Suleman mountain range. These floods have played havoc in the district during the past and caused colossal loss to the valuable crops infrastructure whereas thousands of houses have been washed away. In spite of the damages caused by the floods, the district being the farthest in Punjab, could not fetch due attention by the national media. It is also highlighted that natural hazards and disaster management in Pakistan lacks coordination. Organisations like the NDMA/PDMA/DDMA are also very lean with limited staff and resources thus response is delayed and often ineffective to mitigate disaster especially floods. The lack of early warning, delivery system and functioning capabilities, as well as cooperation with other agencies are the main causes of inefficiency. There is a need to develop a comprehensive and workable Flood Management Plan with redefining the role of DDMA as leading flood management organisation for district D G Khan and similar areas exposed to twin flood hazards in south Punjab.
Mughis Raza
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2019.
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