Additional Secretary Irrigation Aslam Ansari on Tuesday said that there is no danger of massive destruction from floods in Sindh as the flood surge coming from Punjab will lose its steam and only 650,000 cusecs of water will enter Sindh on 15th September which would be only 2-3 feet above embankments.
Speaking along with other Secretary Rehabilitation Roshan Shaikh at a press conference at Sindh Secretariat, Ansari said that 1.14 million cusecs of water passed through Jehlum and Chenab but before entering Sindh at least 150,000 cusecs of water would be left behind after embankments would be demolished in Punjab while 350,000 cusecs water would be lost between Kot Mithan and Guddu.
He said that 45 sensitive positions were identified at different embankments, where machinery had been sent for their strengthening. "We have cancelled holidays of all irrigation officers and they would work round the clock to monitor the situation," he said adding that flood water would benefit fields in the Katcha areas. Speaking on the occasion, Director General PDMA Salman Shah said that there was no need to panic as deputy commissioners of Larkana and Sukkur were alerted to monitor the situation. He said that the Katcha areas along the River Indus would be vacated and instructions in this regard had been conveyed to the concerned authorities.
"We have shifted boats, tents, medicines and other relief goods to the would-be affected areas and armed forces are requested to remain standby for relief activities," he said. The DG PDMA said that special arrangements based on modern technology were devised to avert destruction while Rs 20 million were given to each deputy commissioner for relief activities. He said the district disaster management authority would have representation from civil society and media to make rehabilitation process transparent.
Shah further said that the Chief Minister Sindh would visit Larkana and Sukkur to oversee the flood-avoiding and rehabilitation arrangements. He said that there were suitable rains in Tharparkar that had lessened the drought chances in the region. "A meeting of Tharparkar stakeholders was held in Nagarparker where committees regarding installation of bio-plants, agriculture, livestock, forests and craftsmen were formed which submitted their initial findings while complete reports would be made public soon," he added.
"The stakeholders will devise a strategy for Tharparkar after considering different reports and plan for the districts development would be formed and implemented in this regard," he said. Shah said that there were less rains in Thana Bola Khan, Thatta and other districts of the province and the provincial authorities were monitoring the situation and would declare these areas drought-hit if needed.
Director Meteorological Department Tauseef Ahmed said that there would be 30 percent less rains in the province this year; however, there were rains in Tharparkar and a rain-system was present in Rajasthan which would cause rainfall in Tharparkar after five days.