Chinese want to divert floodwater to arid land

Delegation from China Institute of Water and Hydro Power Research chalks out a strategy to deal with floods in Sindh.

KARACHI: A seven-member delegation from the China Institute of Water and Hydro Power Research, led by deputy chief engineer Cheng Xiaotao, met Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at his residence on Monday to chalk out a strategy to deal with floods in Sindh.

Cheng explained that the motive of their journey was primarily to survey the flood-affected areas and observe damages to the water system and in the trend of the River Indus. Through their observations, the engineers want to ensure that modern ways can be adopted to avoid large-scale damage.

The delegation will also get topography data available via satellite, which can help them control the diversion of floodwater so that it can be used for uncultivated areas. Surveys of the cultivable agriculture land that was damaged by the recent floods will also be conducted and necessary measures will be undertaken to restore their fertility.

The delegation will visit the flood-affected areas, including Sukkur, Guddu and Kotri barrages, before they fly to Islamabad, where they will meet the officials of the Water and Power Development Authority on Wednesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2010.