CM calls for vigillance against possible floods
Asks relevant departments to monitor river flow, complete protective arrangements
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. PHOTO: ASIM SHAHZAD/EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday directed departments concerned to alert their staff for the possibility of another round of river floods in the wake of recent rains in the country.
He was addressing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Flood through a video link.
“The departments should remain fully alert. The situation of major rivers should be monitored round the clock. Protective arrangements should be completed,” he said.
The chief minister said that the departments concerned should finalise arrangements to deal with any emergency. “There should be proper arrangements for providing food, medicine and fodder for livestock in flood-hit districts. The protective spurs and embankments should be strengthened,” he said. “Boats, dewatering sets and all the necessary equipment should be in working condition. Steps should be taken to deal with possible flooding in drains of Gujranwala division,” he said.
Read: Health dept treated over 250,000 people during floods
He also asked the departments concerned to coordinate their efforts. He said that there was also a need to improve coordination with federal authorities concerned.
Sharif said that in order to prevent illegal breaches, the police should work in coordination with the district administrations. “The Cabinet Committee on Flood should ensure implementation of its decisions. No negligence will be tolerated in this regard,” he said.
He said that provincial ministers and secretaries should be assigned duties in district affected by floods. “Provincial ministers and secretaries should review protective arrangements and preparations in the districts assigned to them. Timely provision of machinery and equipment should be ensured in case of emergency. Control rooms should set up at the district level,” he said.
Earlier, the Irrigation Department secretary briefed the meeting about the water levels in major rivers. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) director general informed the meeting about protective arrangements and availability of necessary equipment.
The Meteorological Department director general informed the meeting about the weather forecast for the next week.
Rajanpur villagers seek compensation
Hundreds of Taung village residents staged a demonstration in Rajanpur seeking compensation for losses they said they had suffered during recent floods.
The protesters said their village was intentionally excluded from a list of flood-affected villages, denying them the compensation announced by the provincial government for losses from the flood.
They said the survey was conducted by a Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) team headed by Rajanpur DCO Zahoor Hussain Gujjar.
Muhammad Rasheed, a protester, said standing crop in his field had been damaged in flood water.
Read: Floods still swamp Pakistan despite improved warnings
Talking to The Express Tribune, Rajanpur DCO Gujjar said he had received no complaint about the survey from the Taung village. “I will look into the matter. I assure you there will be no injustice,” he said. He said distribution of compensation among flood affected people in Rajanpur would start before Eidul Azha.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2015.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday directed departments concerned to alert their staff for the possibility of another round of river floods in the wake of recent rains in the country.
He was addressing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Flood through a video link.
“The departments should remain fully alert. The situation of major rivers should be monitored round the clock. Protective arrangements should be completed,” he said.
The chief minister said that the departments concerned should finalise arrangements to deal with any emergency. “There should be proper arrangements for providing food, medicine and fodder for livestock in flood-hit districts. The protective spurs and embankments should be strengthened,” he said. “Boats, dewatering sets and all the necessary equipment should be in working condition. Steps should be taken to deal with possible flooding in drains of Gujranwala division,” he said.
Read: Health dept treated over 250,000 people during floods
He also asked the departments concerned to coordinate their efforts. He said that there was also a need to improve coordination with federal authorities concerned.
Sharif said that in order to prevent illegal breaches, the police should work in coordination with the district administrations. “The Cabinet Committee on Flood should ensure implementation of its decisions. No negligence will be tolerated in this regard,” he said.
He said that provincial ministers and secretaries should be assigned duties in district affected by floods. “Provincial ministers and secretaries should review protective arrangements and preparations in the districts assigned to them. Timely provision of machinery and equipment should be ensured in case of emergency. Control rooms should set up at the district level,” he said.
Earlier, the Irrigation Department secretary briefed the meeting about the water levels in major rivers. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) director general informed the meeting about protective arrangements and availability of necessary equipment.
The Meteorological Department director general informed the meeting about the weather forecast for the next week.
Rajanpur villagers seek compensation
Hundreds of Taung village residents staged a demonstration in Rajanpur seeking compensation for losses they said they had suffered during recent floods.
The protesters said their village was intentionally excluded from a list of flood-affected villages, denying them the compensation announced by the provincial government for losses from the flood.
They said the survey was conducted by a Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) team headed by Rajanpur DCO Zahoor Hussain Gujjar.
Muhammad Rasheed, a protester, said standing crop in his field had been damaged in flood water.
Read: Floods still swamp Pakistan despite improved warnings
Talking to The Express Tribune, Rajanpur DCO Gujjar said he had received no complaint about the survey from the Taung village. “I will look into the matter. I assure you there will be no injustice,” he said. He said distribution of compensation among flood affected people in Rajanpur would start before Eidul Azha.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2015.