Ten-year project: CCI to mull flood protection plan fate
Centre, provinces agree to lay out plan before council at the next meeting.
Centre, provinces agree to lay out plan before council at the next meeting. PHOTO: NNI
ISLAMABAD:
The centre and provinces have agreed to approach the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for the approval of 10-year flood protection plan, considering the recent countrywide devastation caused by rains and flooding.
The consensus was reached on Thursday at a high-level meeting chaired by Power Minister Khawaja Asif held in Islamabad. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Climate Change Minister Zahid Hamid, provincial irrigation ministers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and officials of flood commission, climate change division and national and provincial disaster management authorities were also in attendance.
According to a water and power ministry statement, Asif said a consensus-based national plan for flood protection was the need of the hour owing to global climate change and its particular impact on Pakistan. He appreciated the spirit of all federating units and territories during the preparatory meetings.
The frequency and intensity of floods and the resulting damages have increased manifold in recent years, making it imperative to have an integrated and innovative approach to flood protection.
During the past six years, overall damages due to floods have been almost equal to the total flood damages in the preceding 60 years.
In view of the rising flood damages, the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has formulated the 10-year plan through World Bank funding.
Internationally renowned experts in water resources and flood management of the Deltares of Netherlands and NESPAK have been engaged for National Flood Protection Plan-IV to be implemented between 2015-16 and 2024-25.
An integrated countrywide flood management exercise was conducted during 2011-13 to prepare the plan, which envisages reduction in damages through mapping of flood plains and significant improvements in relief and rescue operations.
It also aims at flood reduction through watershed management and in reduction in flash flooding through management of hill torrents.
The total financial outlay of the plan is Rs177,661 million. The plan affords flexibility in provincial priorities during the next 10 years.
Suggestions by all provincial governments and the climate change ministry have incorporated in the plan.
A steering committee will be formed at the federal government level with representation of all stakeholders while a third party evaluation mechanism will also be put in place.
Thursday’s meeting, while approving the National Flood Protection Plan-IV, recommended placing the proposal before the CCI for formal approval and adoption in its next meeting. The financial aspects related to its execution will be decided by the CCI, where all the provinces are represented.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2016.
The centre and provinces have agreed to approach the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for the approval of 10-year flood protection plan, considering the recent countrywide devastation caused by rains and flooding.
The consensus was reached on Thursday at a high-level meeting chaired by Power Minister Khawaja Asif held in Islamabad. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Climate Change Minister Zahid Hamid, provincial irrigation ministers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and officials of flood commission, climate change division and national and provincial disaster management authorities were also in attendance.
According to a water and power ministry statement, Asif said a consensus-based national plan for flood protection was the need of the hour owing to global climate change and its particular impact on Pakistan. He appreciated the spirit of all federating units and territories during the preparatory meetings.
The frequency and intensity of floods and the resulting damages have increased manifold in recent years, making it imperative to have an integrated and innovative approach to flood protection.
During the past six years, overall damages due to floods have been almost equal to the total flood damages in the preceding 60 years.
In view of the rising flood damages, the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has formulated the 10-year plan through World Bank funding.
Internationally renowned experts in water resources and flood management of the Deltares of Netherlands and NESPAK have been engaged for National Flood Protection Plan-IV to be implemented between 2015-16 and 2024-25.
An integrated countrywide flood management exercise was conducted during 2011-13 to prepare the plan, which envisages reduction in damages through mapping of flood plains and significant improvements in relief and rescue operations.
It also aims at flood reduction through watershed management and in reduction in flash flooding through management of hill torrents.
The total financial outlay of the plan is Rs177,661 million. The plan affords flexibility in provincial priorities during the next 10 years.
Suggestions by all provincial governments and the climate change ministry have incorporated in the plan.
A steering committee will be formed at the federal government level with representation of all stakeholders while a third party evaluation mechanism will also be put in place.
Thursday’s meeting, while approving the National Flood Protection Plan-IV, recommended placing the proposal before the CCI for formal approval and adoption in its next meeting. The financial aspects related to its execution will be decided by the CCI, where all the provinces are represented.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2016.