Flood contingency plan reviewed

All departments concerned directed to finalise strategy to deal with any emergency

LAHORE:

Expressing concern over an increase in roof-collapse and electrocution incidents in the last few weeks due to heavy rains, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee asked all departments concerned to finalise a strategy to deal with such emergencies.

The meeting, chaired by Provincial Minister Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti and Punjab Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik, reviewed arrangements for dealing with possible floods and the situation caused by monsoon rains.

It was also decided in the meeting to ban bathing in all rivers and streams across the province. Addressing the meeting, Bhatti said with better planning, natural calamities such as floods could be dealt with effectively. The departments should pay special attention to enhance their capacity to deal with natural disasters, he remarked.

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Asking all the relevant departments to remain alert during the monsoon season, the chief secretary said that a strategy should be formulated to prevent the occurrence of roof collapse and electrocution during rains. He also directed the director general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to submit a report on the survey of dilapidated buildings.

The chief secretary said the implementation of directions regarding removal of encroachments along the rivers and streams should be ensured and the deputy commissioners should personally inspect the dykes in the districts vulnerable to floods.

He also directed the authorities to take special measures regarding drainage from low-lying areas and all machinery should be kept operational during monsoon rains. He said there was a need to enhance coordination between the provincial and federal departments for effective monitoring of weather conditions and rivers’ flow.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2021.