CM orders preventive measures against floods

KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered on Monday the strengthening of protective bunds and repair of vulnerable points along the Indus River. He was presiding over a meeting on pre-monsoon flood preparation and disaster risk management.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to the CM Sohail Rajput, Special Irrigation Secretary Junaid Memon, chief engineers Aijaz Shaikh, Irshad Memon and Bahi Khan Lakho and Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority Managing Director Mohammad Khan.

Briefing the meeting, the special irrigation secretary said the flood season normally starts from the second week of July and continues till September. He added that the pre-monsoon season has started in the country with light rains that may lead to low floods.



The special secretary quoted the weekly report of the Pakistan Meteorological Department for river areas from June 15 to June 21, 2017, which said a trough of westerly wave lies over Kashmir and its adjoining areas while a seasonal low lies over Northeast Balochistan. According to the report, rain of moderate intensity is expected in the upper areas of all the major rivers from June 19. There would neither be very heavy rains nor a flood situation in the rivers.

It may be noted that there are certain stages of floods. At the Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri barrages, a flow of up to 200,000 cusecs is considered normal while a flow of 250,000 cusecs is termed a low flood. Flow of over 350,000 to 500,000 cusecs is considered a medium flood while high flood is measured at 500,000 to 700,000 cusecs flow. A flow of 900,000 cusecs is termed a super flood. The current situation is less than normal at all barrages.

The CM directed the irrigation department to make arrangements for clearance of jungles, levelling, soaking and repair of bunds, identification of borrow pit areas, identification and treatment of leaks, filling of ditches, establishment of flood warning centres, deployment of earth moving machinery and procurement of required materials.



He was told that during the super flood of 2010, five breaches occurred along the LM Bund from mile 7/2 to 15/7. After th efloods, the bund has been raised by six feet above the water level of 2010 and has also been stoned pitched.

On the CM's inquiry about the KK Bund at mile 11 that remained vulnerable during the floods of 2010, the special secretary replied that the bund has been strengthened and the stone apron that was washed out during flood of 2016 has been repaired. The CM also stressed on the vigilance at the KK Feeder whose stone apron had washed away during the floods of 2015.

The CM said Sukkur Begari Bund from zero to four-miles is a defence line, as it protects Sukkur city which is just behind the bund. The Sukkur Barrage chief engineer assured the CM the bund is stone pitched and strong enough to deal with the anticipated flood situation.



The CM directed the irrigation department to provide him the list of officers assigned on the emergency duty in flood emergency centres and patrolling officers along with their mobile phone numbers so that he could remain in contact with them.

The CM also directed Rajput to issue necessary directives to divisional commissioners to take precautionary measures before start of the monsoon season.