Flood fighting plan may be approved: Commission annual meeting today

The federal government is likely to approve the 'Flood fighting Plan 2006' on Wednesday in co-ordination with provincial governments, Federal Flood Commission, Wapda and other concerned agencies.
Official sources told Business Recorder that Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi has convened annual meeting of the Federal Flood Commission on Wednesday to finalise flood protection arrangements being made by provincial governments and armed forces to deal with any emergency.
Sources said that the representatives of provincial governments, Armed Forces, Wapda, Irsa, Pakistan Commission for Indus Waters (PCIW) and Pakistan Meteorological Department would make presentations in the meeting about the arrangements, they have made to meet any unusual situation.
According to the proposed plan, sources said, the government will set up flood monitoring centres at Federal Flood Commission, Pakistan Meteorological Department, Irsa, Wapda, provincial headquarters and PCIW, to match water outflow data to be gathered from Indian government, satellites, telemetry system and other channels.
Sources said that PCIW would obtain flood data from different rivers, barrages, headworks and other stations from India, after every three hours through telephone, fax and internet, which would be communicated immediately to all relevant agencies for further action.
The provincial governments have been asked to submit reports about weaknesses of last year, so that foolproof arrangements could be made.
"We will make sure that last years' weaknesses regarding collection of data from India and some other precautionary measures should not be repeated this time," sources said.
The representative of Pak Army would brief the meeting about preparedness measures they have taken to extend help in an emergency situation in any area of the country, besides communication interaction with other government agencies.
The meeting would also review the performance of telemetry system, which remained under question for the last one year, but nothing has been done so far to remove its faults. Interestingly, the Federal Flood Commission, in its progress report has expressed satisfaction over its performance, saying that the (telemetry) system was giving reliable water flows data.
The meeting would also approve the minutes of last year's meeting and expenditure for 2006 with regard to payment to India for providing outflow data and other emergency expenditures, sources added.