Risk mitigation: CM orders revamping of flood management system

Says early warning system for floods need of the hour.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has ordered the immediate adoption of short-term measures to improve the flood management system.

Sharif said protective measures should be taken at all costs before the advent of the monsoon season. He said regulatory and administrative measures on this front should be finalised. The chief minister said the timely strengthening of spurs and embankments should be ensured. Sharif said the construction of illegal settlements on riverbeds should be curbed.



The chief minister said a state-of-the-art early warning system for floods was the need of the hour. He ordered rehabilitation and improvement work on barrages to be expedited. Sharif said only competent people should be posted at barrages as they were important structures.

Sharif ordered the formulation of a modern irrigation manual. He said the approved short-term measures on this front should be immediately implemented. He stressed the need for effective coordination among relevant departments and institutions to ensure quick progress.

The chief minister said immediate measures should be taken to improve irrigation installations. He directed all ponds in the province to be placed under the Irrigation Department. Sharif said the department should have all these measures audited by a third party.  He said effective measures should be taken to improve bridges and barrages. Sharif said construction and repair of infrastructure should be completed transparently. He said no compromise should be made on quality on this account. Sharif said compliance with the third-party audit policy in this regard must be ensured.

The chief minister stressed the need for transparent use of flood management system funds. Sharif ordered the constitution of a special committee to formulate short-term and long-term flood management plans. He said the committee would have to submit its final proposals within two weeks.

The irrigation secretary briefed those present on the occasion regarding the flood management system. Ministers Yawar Zaman, Tanvir Aslam Malik, Farrukh Javed, Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq, Bilal Yasin, Abdul Waheed Arain, MNA Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2015.