The Chief Secretary Sindh Fazul-ur-Rehman has said the structures of all the three barrages of Indus River in Sindh were safe. This he observed while addressing a press conference after a meeting at Shahbaz Hall, Shahbaz Building Hyderabad on Thursday evening.
Secretary Health Hashim Raza Zaidi, Chief Engineer Kotri Barrage Manzoor Shaikh, Director General Livestock Ghulam Sarwar Shaikh, District Administrator Hyderabad Aftab Ahmed Khatri, DIG Hyderabad Captain (Retd) Tahir Naveed, DPO Hyderabad Muneer Shaikh and other officers of provincial and district governments attended the meeting.
The Chief Secretary Sindh said that since water flow from upstream Gudo Barrage had reduced due to breaches in Indus River embankments at Taunsa in Punjab the flash flood was now not so dangerous for barrages in Sindh. However, he maintained that the government was maintaining strict vigilance on all embankments of Indus River.
Responding to a question, the Chief Secretary said that about 500,000 cusecs to 550,000 cusecs flood water is expected at Kotri Barrage, which was below than its designed discharge capacity. He said that there was no shortage of resources. To another question, the Chief Secretary said that government was giving top priority to rehabilitation of Manchar Lake as it was the largest source of income and employment of local fishermen. According to him, a study to suggest ways and means for rehabilitation of Manchar Lake is being carried out and the government wants to resolve this problem on a permanent basis.
Earlier, while addressing the meeting, the Chief Secretary warned the officers concerned against any complacency towards Qasimabad and Latifabad talukas. The DCO Hyderabad Aftab Ahmed Khatri, Chief Engineer Kotri Barrage Manzoor Hussain Shaikh, Project Director SIDA Ahsan Leghari, Director General Livestock Serwar Shaikh, DIG Hyderabad and DPO Hyderabad also briefed the Chief Secretary about protective measures.