Flood situation: ‘Fed, provincial depts participating in relief activities’

Chief secretary reviews steps to deal with floods

LAHORE: Chief Secretary Khizar Hayyat Gondal said on Wednesday that federal and provincial departments should enhance coordination to deal with floods. He was presiding over a meeting on flood management.

“Better planning and coordinated efforts can help cope with natural disasters like floods. Protecting the life and property of citizens is the prime responsibility of the government. No compromise can be made in this regard,” he said.

The meeting was briefed about the river flows at Tarbela and Mangla Dams and other measurement stations. Representative of Meteorological Department informed the meeting that flow in River Ravi near Lahore was 22,000 cusecs. He said there was no threat of a flood.

The meeting was attended by the irrigation secretary, the Lahore commissioner, the Lahore DCO and officials of the Ministry of Water and Power, the WAPDA and Indus River System Authority.

Earlier, the chief secretary chaired a meeting to review flood situation in the province.

Addressing the meeting, he said the flood situation was being monitored on a regular basis and the situation was completely under control. “No loss of life has been reported in the province due to floods. The administration of all districts has been put on high alert to cope with possible flooding,” he said.

He directed Additional Chief Secretary Syed Mubashir Raza to oversee the arrangements for draining rainwater from cities. “Special measures should be taken to drain rainwater from low-lying areas,” he said.

The irrigation secretary told the meeting that all embankments were in good condition and there was no imminent threat of a dyke breach.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2015.