Flood mitigation: Chandio calls for funds to strengthen Indus’ dykes

Minister says the PML-N government also seems uninterested in activating the NDMA, Irsa and Wapda

KARACHI: The Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) government should activate the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Indus River System Authority (Irsa) and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to cope with the expected floods and provide sufficient funds to the Sindh government for strengthening the dykes of River Indus, said the adviser to the chief minister for information and archives, Maula Bux Chandio, in a statement on Saturday.

"Though this is the [responsibility] of the federal government to strengthen the dykes of River Indus, and allocate all required emergency funds in view of the expected floods and rain devastations, this work is being done by the Sindh government alone," said Chandio, adding that the federal government has deprived Sindh of its due share of funds, including those for flood protection and the share from gas and oil resources, which have been reduced by 50%.

"Our province has been deprived of even the payment of the curtailed share since the last three years," said the information adviser.

He said the PML-N government also seems uninterested in activating the NDMA, Irsa and Wapda as these national institutions need to prepare a joint national action plan and coordinate with the provincial governments, including Sindh. The federal government needs to provide necessary technical assistance and special financial assistance to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority of Sindh for tackling the expected floods, he said. "Pakistan established the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) in 1977 under Wapda," said Chandio.

"It is responsible to execute flood control projects and protect the lives and property from the impact of floods. Now the time has come that FFC should [be brought] forward with concrete measures to provide all [the] required funds to Sindh for flood safety measures." The advisor said that the Sindh government has taken proper measures for tackling the expected floods. Floods are likely to hit Sindh and, therefore, precautionary measures are necessary to be taken forthwith, he said.

Chandio stressed that hospitals across Sindh must make strategic plans to cope with any emergency situation during the floods. He also advised the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority and district governments in Sindh to clean water channels and strengthen the dykes of River Indus ahead of floods in order to avoid human and financial losses.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2016.