Floods and havoc
Torrential rains and flash-floods have once again come to test the resilience of Baloch masses. More than 12 hours of late winter downpour has not only inundated many of the low-lying districts of the remote and underdeveloped province of Balochistan, but has also played havoc with highways and private property. Though no casualties have been reported, Gwadar and the entire coastal belt of Ormara, Turbat, Pasni and Jewani stand truncated from the national grid and road network. There is literally no mobility linkage between Karachi and the restive rain-drained zones, posing a simple question as to why proper infrastructure and water channels are yet to come into force. It is no history that last year the backward unit of federation was reeling with death and destruction, and contingency plans were drummed to avoid the repeat of misery.
The fact that Gwadar and Ormara turned into such a bad shape drives us to some interrogation. These two towns are on the map of international development, and luckily part of activities under CPEC. Yet they crumbled under 200mm of rainfall, which is surprising and hints at lethargy, unprofessionalism and inherent corruption in planning and development. It is also no surprise that the locals of the area keep on complaining against the indifferent attitude of authorities, and the discrimination they are met with in terms of development on par. Apart from unemployment, their tales of sorrow include electricity shortage, non-availability of drinking water and an uneven mosaic of interaction at the state level. Thus, despite being laden with rich minerals, livestock and a hospitable culture, the Baloch are ages away from growth and progress.
It is, moreover, unfortunate to learn that small-scale dams in the region could not stand the tide and volume of cloudburst, and were themselves hit with calamity. This calls for a genuine and foolproof master plan of drainage, water channels, irrigation and quality road and bridges infrastructure, and that too under the supervision of the locals. The prevalent sense of ad hocism has only bred discontent.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 29th, 2024.
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