Qaim directs steps to combat any eventuality during rains

Posted on 11 months ago

F.P. Report
KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed all the concerned departments to strictly implement on the "Pre Monsoon 2012 Contingency Plan" so that the damages and losses during heavy rains and floods as forecasted by metrological department could be minimized.
This he observed while presiding a high level meeting to review the pre-monsoon 2012 arrangements at CM House, said a statement issued on Tuesday.
He directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the province not to leave their respective district headquarters without prior permission from Chief Secretary or relevant Divisional Commissioners and should effectively monitor the pre-monsoon pre-cautionary measures by all the concerned departments.
The CM Sindh directed the concerned authorities to strengthen and fully equip the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) and
ensure the availability of Abkalani material at headquarters of DDMAs to have an immediate and urgent response during any eventuality.
He said tents, mosquito nets, blankets, life saving jackets, boats, dewatering pumps, fire brigades and ambulances should also be arranged. Coordinated efforts be made by all the departments to avoid the duplication of the efforts, he added.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that though the heavy rain fall has been predicted by weather forecast agencies but there is no need to create unnecessary panic among the people as provincial government has evolved an effective planning to face any emergency like situation.
All the stakeholder departments are well prepared and last two years consecutive experience for rescue and relief activities will also help to a great deal, he added.
The CM Sindh asked the PDMA and divisional commissioners for formulation of district and taluka level committees for arranging risk management, rescue, relief, vigilance, transport, machinery, health, sanitation, food, veterinary and hygiene.
He directed the DCs to identify places at high points for installation of tents and relief camps so that immediate shifting of low lying communities should be made easy during rains and floods.
He directed for early completion of remaining work on LBOD while the Secretary Irrigation Sindh informed that there was even not a single breach opened and all the breaches have been plugged and all rains bunds have been strengthened.
Construction of new drains in Jhudo, Badin and Tando Allahyar are underway and 80 percent of work has been completed so-far, he added.
He said that MPAs, local communities and representatives of growers are also monitoring the ongoing work at different places, this work by any cost will be completed before the planned deadline of June 31, 2012.
The CM Sindh said that President Asif Ali Zardari has directed to remove encroachments from river embankments while Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Police and all other department should cooperate with irrigation department to evacuate the encroachments and strict legal action be taken against the encroachers.
Commissioner Mirpurkhas informed the meeting that encroachments from Jhudo, Dhoro puran and Sarfraz dhoro have been removed.
He informed that there was fear among people and they were reluctant to cultivate the crops as NDMA and Pakistan Metrological Department had forecasted weather too early.
Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo said that Irrigation Department had faced numerous challenges in last years floods and strategy with improved measures is being evolved.

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