Challenges of flooding after rainfall loom large: Ghani

Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani has expressed concern about the potential challenges posed by torrential rainfall due to the limited capacity of the city's drainage system.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Ghani emphasised that the effectiveness of the government’s response should be measured by how swiftly they can manage and remove accumulated rainwater.

Ghani acknowledged that while flooding can occur in developed countries during heavy rains, the problems in Sindh are exacerbated by fewer resources. He noted that the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted heavy rainfall for the month, but assured that the provincial government has been preparing for rain-related challenges since May.

The minister admitted there are issues with the Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Board Corporation (HW&SBC), though he indicated improvements. HW&SBC Managing Director Zahid Khemtio had requested a Rs240 million grant during the meeting, citing past challenges with solid waste management in Hyderabad.

Ghani noted that while many areas remained unclean for 15 to 16 years until 2022 due to inadequate waste disposal, the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board has made strides in addressing this issue in recent years.

Ghani was informed that Hyderabad has 118 drainage disposal stations, but only some are equipped with backup generators, with the majority relying solely on power from Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO).

These stations are staffed by 641 employees and are supported by 243 movable water pumps for draining low-lying areas.

Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro pointed out that power outages during rainfall hinder drainage operations and suggested that sensitive pumping stations should receive dedicated electricity feeders from HESCO. He also highlighted unplanned settlements as a significant challenge for rainwater drainage.

Deputy Commissioner Zainul Abedin Memon reported that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of potential flash floods this month. MD Khemtio added that nine major drains in Hyderabad have been desilted. Regarding housing schemes on the Indus River's riverbed, Shoro announced that approvals for such schemes have been cancelled, emphasising that commercial activities on irrigation land are unacceptable.