Bilawal tells govt to speed up dewatering

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari directed the provincial government to ensure the disposal of rainwater from the main roads, streets, and houses. He directed his government to start rehabilitation work on damaged roads, drainage, and houses of the rain affectees.

This was said while presiding over a meeting at the DC office on Monday.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, provincial minister Imtiaz Shaikh, Nasir Shah, Mukesh Chawla, Advisor Rehabilitation Rasool Bux Chandio, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Commissioner Larkana Ganhwar Leghari, DC Larkana Tariq Manzoor Chandio, and other concerned officers.

The chairman was informed at the meeting that during the three spells of heavy rain Larkana district received heavy rains, which claimed 26 lives and injured 367. The district administration has set up 290 relief camps where 28,500 people have been shifted.

The meeting was also informed that almost 90% of rice crops have been washed away while thousands of houses have been damaged in urban and rural areas for which a survey was being conducted. The rainwater has submerged almost the entire Larkana city and its taluka.

While addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that rainwater has accumulated in the houses of people. He said that the initial relief for the people will be the disposal of water from their homes, for which the district administration along with public health departments and local government will start immediately. Murad said that the rice canal was passing through the centre of the city, therefore, rainwater should be disposed of into it through pumping machines. "We are planning to construct a stormwater drain in the city for which experts will be consulted," he said.

The chairman was told that the rainwater after being accumulated on the streets in Ratodero, Dokri, and Bakrani towns was now gushing into the houses, which had to be disposed of through machinery. At this, the chairman directed the administration to procure the machinery and dispose of the water.

The chairman directed the district administration to improve hygiene at relief camps and provide the affectees food and clean water, electricity, and mosquito nets so that they live there safe and sound, otherwise, we will have to fight against the viral diseases.

Earlier, after landing at Begum Nusrat Bhutto Airport Sukkur, the PPP chairman drove directly to Larkana along with the chief minister and visited a relief camp at Technical College where rain-affected people of different areas were settled. At the relief camp, the chairman met with people and assured them that they will be looked after properly.

While going to the DC office for a briefing, he stepped down from his car and met the crowd of people that had gathered to talk to him. Bilawal consoled and assured them that his government will not leave them alone.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2022.