Flood protection related projects: Punjab to get Rs 881.626 million through NDRMF by Centre

The federal government through National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) will provide Rs 881.626 million to Punjab government for flood protection related projects.
The NDRFM and Punjab government in this connection signed four grant implementation agreements here on Thursday including rehabilitation of old Deg Nullah from Deg diversion channel to QB Link Canal; rehabilitation/ restoration of Jalala flood protection bund; rehabilitation/restoration of Hajipur Gujran flood protection bund; and protection of villages Shahpur Chanjora, Fatehpur Gujran and Sukho Chak against the erosive action of Bein Nullah in district Narowal.
The total cost of the agreed projects is Rs 1259.466 million out of which the NDRMF will finance 70%, amounting to Rs 881.626 million whereas the remaining 30% contribution amounting to Rs 377.840 million will be made available by Punjab government from its annual development budget.
The duration of the projects are ranging from 19 to 23 months. Under the projects, various interventions including raising and strengthening of bund and spurs, construction of ramps, stone pitching and other structural measures, will be carried out. The proposed interventions are in line with the National Flood Protection Plan (NFPP-IV).
The projects are anticipated to protect 121,000 vulnerable people (11,500 for Bein Nullah project, 50,000 for Hajipur Gujran, 49,500 for deg diversion channel, 10,000 for Jalala flood protection bund), and protect approximately 25,000 hectares of agricultural land (3,000 Ha Bein Nullah project, 6,475 Ha for Hajipur Gujran, 12,900 Ha for Deg Diversion Channel, 2,833 Ha for Jalala flood bund) against the negative impacts of flooding by reinforcing and strengthening the embankments of flood channels/nullahs.
The NDRMF has also partnered with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Islamic Relief Pakistan (IRP) and joint venture of Agha Khan Foundation (AKF) & Aga Khan Planning & Building Services, for extending grant financing to their projects which are focusing on disaster risk reduction and preparedness. The NDRMF is committed to reducing the socio-economic and fiscal vulnerability of the country & its population to natural hazards and climate change, through financing investments in disaster risk reduction and preparedness that have high economic impacts.
All projects which the NDRMF is financing have undergone through a merit-based and transparent process of selection in accordance with a preset criteria, while promoting gender equality, along with ensuring environmental and social safeguards. The NDRMF has also put in place a strong monitoring framework to ensure that all the funded projects are implemented in an effective and transparent manner, thereby reducing disaster risks and protecting the local population from disasters.
The tripartite grant implementation agreements were signed by Khurram Khaliq Khan, General Manager, Projects & Operations Group, NDRMF, Ghulam Rasool, Chief Engineer, Drainage and Flood, Irrigation Department, Punjab, and Dr Muhammad Abid Bodla, Member Water/ID, Planning & Development Department, Punjab government.
Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed (retd), Chief Executive Officer NDRMF, and Captain Saif Anjum (retd), Secretary Irrigation Department, Punjab, also graced the signing ceremony. The projects are designed to augment the protection and enhancing resilience of communities which are vulnerable to the negative impacts of flooding.