‘WB-funded SFERP to have impact on human lives’

Project aims to safeguard Manchhar Lake to protect villages from floods in future

KARACHI/HYDERABAD:

The Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Programme (SFERP), a cash-for-work initiative funded by the World Bank and supported by local communities, especially women and children in flood-hit areas, will soon be launched at Manchhar Lake and its surrounding regions.

The World Bank Support Mission team led by Ahsan Tehsin, arrived in Sehwan after visiting various parts of Manchhar, including the main regulator of the Aral Canal and Lake Manchhar.

The team held a meeting with the civil society representatives from the Sehwan area at the Irrigation Rest House to discuss issues related to Manchhar and the flood-affected areas.

The meeting discussed the problems faced by the community and explored the potential solutions. The World Bank Support Mission reviewed the status of the ongoing restoration work under the SFERP at Manchhar Lake and the main Aral Canal regulatory area.

Experts revealed that the Aral Canal's capacity has been increased from 12,000 to 52,000 cusec, enabling effective diversion of water from Manchhar to the Indus River and providing protection against future disasters. They also highlighted that the embankment height has been raised from 123 to 130 feet as part of the World Bank-supported Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project.

Moreover, the experts emphasised that the local communities heavily rely on fishing, agriculture, and ranching, making these areas highly vulnerable to flooding. They noted that the World Bank-funded SFERP will have multiple impacts, not only in terms of maintaining fisheries, agriculture, and livestock but also in addressing the livelihood support needed by women who suffered greatly during the 2022 floods.

The experts stressed the importance of restoring access to clean drinking water in the affected areas, suggesting that the 39 damaged RO plants at Manchhar Lake could be utilised for the same purpose. Community representatives, including Azra Memon from the Nari Development Organization (NDO), Mustafa Meerani from the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), expressed their support for the rehabilitation efforts. They emphasised that the renovation of Manchhar and the Aral main regulator would safeguard surrounding villages from floods in future.

They also raised concerns about the educational and health needs of the affected population, particularly the 5,000 school children who were displaced.

A Senior Social Safeguard Specialist from the World Bank, Mishka Zaman, highlighted the importance of community involvement in all phases of the project and emphasised the existence of an effective grievance mechanism for community members to voice their concerns and suggestions.

The World Bank Support Mission concluded its visit by meeting with Sehwan-based civil society representatives and conducting a visit to Manchhar Lake and the Aral head regulator.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2023.