Expected downpour: CM briefed on preparatory measures

CM Shah ordered the local government and irrigation departments to be alert and prepare for a ‘flood-like’ situation

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has directed that the cleanliness work of nullahs and strengthening of embankments of Indus River must continue on a war footing in light of the upcoming rains in the province.

Presiding over a meeting at Chief Minister (CM) House on Monday, Shah ordered the local government and irrigation departments to be alert and prepare for a ‘flood-like’ situation. Local government minister Jam Khan Shoro said there were 30 major drains in the city of which six of the most important ones are being cleared through heavy machinery.

Explaining the difficulties in clearing drains, he said most of the nullahs are massively encroached upon. Giving the examples of the Mahmoodabad drain, he said a 1.5km-stretch of the drain is heavily encroached and machinery cannot be moved there.

“We have started to manually clean such portions,” he informed. The minister explained that it was not possible to simultaneously clean all the nullahs and thus work was being undertaken in phases. He assured that all the nullahs will be cleaned in six months.

The CM directed Shoro and relevant officials of the local administration to ensure that rainwater is pumped out in time. “You must rent generators and fix them in low lying areas and start pumping out water as soon as it starts raining,” he said.

‘Weak bunds’

Irrigation secretary Zaheer Hyder Shah, briefing the CM, said the work on nine vulnerable bunds (simultaneously) is under way for the last month.

Education minister Nisar Khuhro said there was ample flow of water in Indus River but even then the rotation system has been adopted at Rohri Canal and some other canals. Shah directed the secretary to submit a detailed report in a week.

PDMA’s preparations

Talking about the rehabilitation facilities, director-general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Salman Shah said he has provided de-watering pumps to every district of Sindh apart from tents and mosquito nets.

Khuhro said in case of an emergency, ‘tent cities’ may be set up to provide shelter to the flood/rain affected people instead of giving them shelter in schools. “Temporary settlement [of rain affected] in schools causes serious problems like damages to the building, furniture and fixtures,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2016.