Khuhro defends EC’s move to postpone LG elections in Sindh
9
HYDERABAD: Sindh Minister for Information and Irrigation Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said on Monday that the Election Commission had requested the Supreme Court to change the schedule for local government elections in view of ground realities of Sindh and Punjab.
If the elections were held according to the given schedule, thousands of people belonging to kutcha areas would be deprived of casting votes because of floods. However, he said, the provincial government was ready to get the polls held now. Voter lists were prepared and new votes were being registered, he added.
After visiting Kotri barrage at Jamshoro district, he told media persons at a news conference on Saturday evening that two different commissions had been formed on breach of Tori bund during 2010 flood, but they reported in a clear way in their respective reports that the government did not deliberately break the bund. He described the statement of provincial adviser Dr Abdul Qayyum as his own personal views. He said this time, 250,000 people from Katcha areas were shifted to relief camps where they were provided all basic facilities by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), relief and other departments.
He said 1200,000-1300,00 cusec water had been discharged through embankments of the rivers Indus in the past and this time, 700,000 cusec would pass through Sukkur barrage while 500,000 cusec would be discharged through Kotri barrage. Therefore, there would be no risk of flood in Sindh, he said, adding that sensitive embankments of both sides of the river Indus were strengthened.
He said the government machinery was available on embankments of old Tori, Aqil Agani, Mura, Bhanote and other points to face any emergency.
He said that from Hamal lake to Manchar lake, Main Nara Valley (MNV) drain was strengthened and its capacity was increased from 2000 to 5000 cusec.
He said it was important to deal with flood situation instead of development work on embankments while flood would break zamindari embankments in the province.
Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2015
On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play
