Indus embankments safe: Sharjeel Memon

Says barrages of the province are strong and technically safe.

HYDERABAD:

In a robust defence of the condition of the Indus River’s embankments and barrages, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said on Saturday that there were no breaches along these earthen structures which were both strong and technically safe.

However, he said that increased water usually spills over the riverbanks in the riverine areas (Katcha area). The people residing in the area along the river particularly in Ghotki, Sukkur, Shikarpur and Kashmore districts have been evacuated and moved to safer places.

Expressing his views at a briefing regarding the flood situation here on Saturday evening, the minister said  that the administration of the concerned districts and the officers of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) are providing food, drinking water, health facilities and even fodder for animals to the evacuated people.

The minister said there is no technical threat to the Sukkur Barrage or other barrages of the province. The provincial government has directed the administration concerned to adopt protective measures for handling the passage of the flood, Sharjeel Memon said. Earlier, Director Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) Habibullah Ursani briefed the minister about current flood position in Indus River and protective measures adopted by SIDA.

The SIDA director said the irrigation staff was patrolling the embankments in an effort to monitor the flood situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2013.