Senior Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy Development Nisar Ahmed Khuhro has said that the provincial government has made all precautionary arrangements to meet the challenges of the heavy downpours which forecast by the Meteorological Department.
Addressing a news conference after presiding over a meeting with the officers of divisional and district administrations as well as other departments along with Sindh Minister Dr Sikandar Mehndro and Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information Moula Bux Chandio here at Deputy Commissioner Office on Wednesday. The minister said that the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad have assured the de-silting of open drains and sewerage lines and prompt disposal of rainwater during the downpour in Hyderabad.
The Commissioner Hyderabad has been asked to arrange standby generators for continuous operation of pumping machines in case of power fault, the minister maintained and added that the supply of uninterrupted power supply is the responsibility of the Hesco management so that speedy action could be taken for disposal of rainwater from low lying areas.
The minister informed that 45 dewatering machines are available in Hyderabad which are not enough to ensure the disposal of rainwater therefore the administration has been asked to arrange more dewatering machines at the earliest. He informed that Provincial Disaster Management Authority has arranged the boats and rubber boats so that in case of emergency, the people could be rescued in time. The Relief Department has also made arrangements of tents and relief goods in this direction, he said and added that health department has also been asked to ensure proper arrangements of providing health facilities during the emergency.
The minister said that required funds are being released to divisional and district administrations of Hyderabad. He also underlined the need for activation of District Disaster Management Committees for relief and rescue work if any eventuality occurred during heavy rains.
Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information, Moula Bux Chandio said that disposal of rainwater and other arrangements for meeting out the emergency during heavy rains could only be possible with uninterrupted power supply. He appealed to Hesco management to ensure uninterrupted power supply so that rescue and relief work could be carried out without any hindrance in case of emergency. He informed that irrigation department has also been asked to ensure adequate arrangements including the strengthening of dykes of Indus River in order to face the challenges of expected heavy floods.