KARACHI: I would like to draw the attention of the Commissioner of Karachi, Syed Asif Haider Shah, to a neglected yet important matter. Without any doubt, the city administration has taken welcome initiatives for the protection of Karachiites from the predicted heatwaves — that will surely prolong excessively hot weather accompanied by high humidity — to provide the best possible treatment.
In previous months, many of the court hearings were regarding safety precautions from heatstroke. However, the hearings appeared very inattentive towards similar concerns for the flora and fauna in various amusement and family parks of the city. During heatwaves, animals may need to seek water outside their normal zones and they can be assisted by providing additional water sources as well as continuous availability of fresh water through small, artificial rain showers to maintain the greenery.
All over the city, a stark warning has been issued for preventative measures during heatwaves and various response centres have been set up to accommodate victims. Acknowledging this aspect, it is further suggested that centres provide a dose of glucose and medicines under veterinary supervision, and fresh water bowls be placed at certain spots all across the city for roaming birds to avoid dehydration.
Please tell the municipalities working under your authority to work on creating a water-sufficient environment for our animal friends, who are a crucial part of our ecosystem.
Syed Umar Hussaini
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2016.
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To combat the hot weather people need more and more water for drinking, for cooking, for bathing, for sprinkling indoors and outdoors etc but the sources of supply are drying up. The water supply chain for Karachi is: Dams – Kotri barrage – Keenjhar lake – Karachi. The last increase in supplies for Sindh was made with commissioning of Tarbela dam (from 35.6 maf to 44.5 maf), there has been no further increase in 40 years and there are no signs of any further increase. How many years before any sense prevails.Recommend