The flood commission, constituted by Supreme Court to probe into breach of dykes (bunds) on Friday submitted its interim report to the apex court after visiting flood affected areas of Sindh, Balochistan and Southern Punjab.
The commission has pointed out that the irrigation infrastructure in Balochistan had suffered a major setback during July 2010 devastating floods and of the damaged infrastructure has still not been put in place.
The report said that the damaged irrigation infrastructure is causing major problems to the irrigated areas especially Jaffarabad division in Balochistan as the water is even not available for human and cattle consumption what to talk of cultivation of the canal irrigated areas.
It observed the commission met flood-affected people in Dera Allah Yar, besides taking an aerial view of the damaged infrastructure. The commission was told that Kirther canal suffered a major destruction during the floods, which provides bulk of water to Jaffarabad division. Immediate repair of the irrigation system is vital for cultivation of Kharif crop in the affected areas.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who is heading the bench, ceased with the matter has fixed the case for March 28. Notices have issued to all concerned including the petitioners to appear before the court on the said date.
The Supreme Court on December 15, 2010 formed the commission to probe into the overflowing of rivers, charges of deliberate diversion of floodwater and breaches in the embankments of rivers and banks of canals during last year's floods. The apex court had taken suo motu notice of the breaches on the letters of Deputy Chairman of Senate Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali and Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, senior advocate Supreme Court, while PML-Q MNA Marvi Memon and Zahida Thebo Mehar filed petitions in this regard.