Flood prevention: River Act draft put before ministry

Water and power ministry invites suggestions from concerned depts

ISLAMABAD:

An initial draft of the proposed River Act has been submitted to the water and power ministry in an effort to lay down proper flood protection and management measures.

Sources within the water and power ministry said that the ministry has invited comments and suggestions on the proposed act from all concerned departments, particularly from irrigation departments of all provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

“It is necessary to make provision of proper management of rivers and their tributaries and matters connected with and ancillary,” a ministry source said.

Some flood management experts have called it a belated move but they are convinced that this is a positive step towards controlling the flood. “Though it is a belated move, but is never too late to mend,” an expert told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity.

The proposed legislation envisages active flood control measures through preventive and mitigation parts by proper management of commercial, recreational and development activities around the rivers. Experts say that this approach is a step forward, as it could help the country ward off the threat of flooding.

Other key features of the River Act include the protection of rivers from encroachments, catering for the quality of river water and protection of the overall environment around the riverbanks. But the most important feature is the planning to relocate residential and commercial structures from flood zones to safer areas.



Experts said that the relocation of residential and commercial buildings from flood zones to safer areas would be a gigantic task for government, because all such legal and illegal constructions have had political backing and they are enjoying all civic amenities including electricity, gas, sewerage and water lines due to the backing of political parties or with cognisance of government officials.

Once the proposed River Act comes into force, the federal government will constitute Federal River Commission within three months in order to ensure the Act with its spirits. The sources said that the federal government would also ensure necessary financial assistance to provinces that have less fiscal resources.

The flood managers said that the losses caused by floodwaters in Punjab, particularly in Sialkot areas, were caused largely due to the encroachments in river belts that could be avoided merely by implementing the existing river rules.

The proposed draft has been prepared by consultant National Engineering Services Corporation of Pakistan (Nespak) with financial assistance of International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s funded, Water Sector Capacity Building and Advisory Services Project (WCAP).

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2014.