Government to verify claims of casualties

These bodies will comprise the mayor or chairman of district councils

LAHORE: The government will form district level committees to verify cases of families claiming compensation over the deaths of relatives in floods, said Punjab Minister for Planning and Development Malik Nadeem Kamran.



He was speaking to participants of the 13th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Flood Control. The minister said these committees would comprise mayor or chairman of the district council. He said natural calamities, like floods, could be dealt with in a better manner through planning and coordinated efforts. The departments should focus on capacity-building to deal with disasters, he added.

Punjab Chief Secretary Captain (Retd) Zahid Saeed directed all departments to remain alert as the water level in rivers and reservoirs was increasing in the current month. He said the federal and provincial departments should increase coordination for effective monitoring of water flows and weather.



The secretary directed deputy commissioners to personally visit embankments and identify areas vulnerable to possible flooding.He said special measures should be taken for draining rainwater from low-lying areas, while de-watering sets and other machinery must be kept operational during the monsoon season. He also issued orders to the Rescue DG 1122 to resolve staff shortage issue in district Layya.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2017.