Brace yourself: Are we prepared for the monsoon? Sindh govt asks itself

Heavy downpour is expected in central Balochistan as well as coastal areas of Sindh.

KARACHI:

The Sindh government’s preparation for the pre-monsoon rains is in full-swing – at a meeting organised on Tuesday at CM House, chief minister Qaim Ali Shah asked officials to take precautionary, preventive and proactive measures in order to combat the adverse effects of heavy downpour.

The provincial secretary for rehabilitation, Syed Sohail Akbar Shah, said that the meeting was the fifth one in connection with the pre-monsoon rains, which are expected in central Balochistan and coastal areas of Sindh.

The chief minister asked all deputy commissioners to follow the contingency plan and get people, especially those living in the coastal areas and islands, evacuated to safer places. He urged officials to keep up with the on-the-ground realities and hold frequent meetings to discuss them. Shah added that relief goods should be given to the districts well in advance so that victims can be helped in a timely manner. Officials of the finance department were asked to release funds for relief measures to the deputy commissioners. The provincial ministers, MNAs and MPAs will oversee and monitor the relief efforts and disaster management.

Shah also directed provincial secretaries of health, education, livestock and works and services department to fully cooperate with all deputy commissioners during the rainy season. The chief secretary will issue directives in writing for follow-up and implementation.

The commissioner of Mirpurkhas said that work on Left Bank Outfall Drain is in progress and the biggest problem is the rusting and blockage of drain pipes. He added that camps are being established. A flood protective bund has been established around Mirpurkhas, he added. The commissioners of Hyderabad, Karachi, Larkana and Sukkur also described the measures and arrangements that have been made so far in their respective areas. They said that encroachment of drains is a major problem that needs to be tackled.

The meeting was also attended by other officials, including rehabilitation minister Muzaffar Shujra, finance minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, irrigation minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo, chief secretary Raja Muhammad Abbas and adviser to the chief minister for relief, Haleem Adil Shaikh.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2012.