SUKKUR: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance of the irrigation department and the Sindh Irrigation & Drainage Authority (Sida) in the strengthening of dykes and clearing all waterways to avert floods.

He was speaking to the media during his visit to the Qadirpur Loop Bund in Ghotki to review the arrangements he had ordered to be made to cope with any emergency situation in the face of looming flood in the Indus.

Referring to the heavy loss of life and widespread destruction unleashed by torrential rains and floods in Punjab, Mr Shah asked the relevant departments to take all possible measures to help the government save Sindh from a similar situation.

He directed the officials concerned to ensure completion of repair and strengthening work at all protective bunds within the shortest possible time. He called for continuing the work day and night.

He noted that Sida and irrigation department failed to fulfil their responsibilities in this regard as was evident from his visit to various protective bunds. He said an inquiry would be held to fix responsibility and the errant officials would be punished.Mr Shah ordered a strict monitoring of dykes of Akil Agani, Qadirpur and other loop bunds round-the-clock and advance measures to ensure rapid movement of repair and relief teams in case of an emergency situation anywhere in the province.

The chief minister said that Sida and irrigation officials were telling him that they expected a discharge of 700,00 to 800,000 cusec at Guddu over the next few days but considering their wrong assessment about the 2010 super flood, he could not rely on their report.

He said Sindh must be fully prepared to cope with a more serious situation. He recalled that there was a flow of 1,500,000 cusec during the super flood as against the officials’ estimate of 1,000,000 cusec.

Mr Shah reminded all government officials and employees as well as elected representatives of their duty to safeguard the life and property of each and every citizen. He asked lawmakers to remain within their respective constituency and play an active role in the hour of need.

Lawmakers must supervise the ongoing dykes repair works of their respective areas, he said. Moreover, all relevant institutions must play their due role in preventing loss of life and property, he added, and warned that no slackness would be tolerated.

Minister for Agriculture Ali Nawaz Khan aka Raja Khan Mahar also expressed his dissatisfaction over the dykes repair works carried out so far in Ghotki district. Earlier, Ghotki Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tahir Watto, Irrigation Secretary Babar Effendi and other officials gave the chief minister a briefing about anti-flood measures being taken in the district.

MPA Ahmed Ali Khan Pitafi and Sukkur Commissioner Abbas Baloch were also present.

The chief minister also visited the Sukkur barrage late Wednes­day evening.

Speaking to the media, he said talks were under way with China for the rehabilitation of the barrage and construction of a new barrage. He said a team of Chinese experts would soon visit the city in this regard.

He said PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari had discussed establishment of a 26,000 megawatt power project at the barrage with the Chinese authorities.

KHAIRPUR: During his visit to the Ulra Jagir dykes in Khairpur district, the chief minister said that strengthening work of 1,370-mile-long Indus embankment was being carried out at a fast pace.

He said Ulra Jagir embankment had been declared ‘sensitive’ in 2010 and stone aprons were built to solidify it but the ensuing super flood washed away a portion of it which was being repaired.

Earlier, the chief minister had an aerial view of the district’s irrigation channels and Indus course in a helicopter.

THATTA: Former PPP minister for culture Sassui Palijo has accused irrigation officials and their subordinates of indulging in ‘massive corruption’ in the name of repair, maintenance and rehabilitation of the the Indus embankments, as well as deepening and desilting of waterways linked to the irrigation network.

Speaking to the media after inspecting dykes of various irrigation channels within her constituency in Thatta district, she said the irrigation department should be held responsible if a disastrous situation emerged due to flood in Sindh.

She said billions of rupees had been released for the rehabilitation of river embankments and dykes of water courses since the 2010 super flood hit the province, but no change could be seen over the past four years.

If Thatta was affected by the looming flood this time, its people would be right to sue the irrigation department and other relevant authorities, she said.

She also criticised the irrigation minister for his indifferent attitude and the national and provincial disaster management authorities for being inactive at this extremely crucial time, and remarked that Punjab had always been castigating India for releasing floodwaters towards its territory but the province itself had been doing the same with Sindh. In the dry season, Punjab would not even release Sindh’s quota of water leaving the smaller province in a drought-like situation, she added.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2014