THE major damage during the 2010 floods was caused by breaches in embankments along the Indus. In Sindh, the Tori breach in the right bank almost diverted the whole flow of water that later caused multiple breaches in canals etc..

In 2010, only the right bank was affected but the last year’s assessment in August identified eight vulnerable points in the left bank requiring immediate repairs.

Out of eight, only the Bao Deroo embankment has been repaired and strengthened. District and provincial institutes have shown no interest in reconstruction of these embankments.

The failure of flood protective embankments is attributed to super flood, destruction of natural flood plain due to land use for agriculture and extensive deforestation. Carelessness, misuse of funds and lack of proper assessment are often ignored.

Some embankments have become more vulnerable since the 2010 floods . These include Bhanoath and Old Hala on the left bank in Matiari district.

Keeping flood expectations in view, it is important to repair these embankments as quickly as possible.

Any damage to Old Hala and Bhanoath will cause multiple losses in other areas, including New Hala, Shahdadpur, Bhitshah, Khandoo, Saeedabad, Matiari, Tando Adam and the National Highway. Thousands of acres of agricultural land may get devastated.

A local villager, 34-year-old TCS worker Ghulam Ali, living in Bhanoath, said that there was much fear among the locals. No government official has visited embankments after the 2010 flood. They came to warn them but not to protect.

Some of the breaches are temporarily filled by creating a curved structure. Such filling is regarded as partially repaired breaches.

These bunds are then required to be redone in most professional manner to contain the next flood.

We appeal to district and provincial office-bearers to make contingency plans for these embankments and reconstruct them as soon as possible before it is too late.

SHAHZAD ALI SHAH Karachi

A lesson from France

THE country has not been able as yet to deal with the problem of floods. But for our politicians the flood is a boon come free as it gives them an opportunity to wade across a flooded area here and a flooded area there to impress upon the nation that they stand by it.

Alas! such action on the part of politicians does not solve the problem. What is need is, in fact, a comprehensive policy to reduce the destruction caused by floods every year.

We have an example of France when a flood hit that country in 1910 and cost billions of dollars to the national purse, but since then the people and the country’s infrastructures are safe from it.

The main reason is that they have built large, medium-sized and small dams and reservoirs in cities, towns and villages.

By building dams and reservoirs the country can store rainwater, on the one hand, and resolve the shortage of water issue, on the other hand.

The Asian Development Bank recently issued a report in which Pakistan has been labelled as one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. In case of emergency the country is left with only 30 days of water, which is recommended up to 1,000 days. So it is a bigger threat than terrorism to the country in the coming years.

Moreover, its water can be used for irrigation purposes. These dams and reservoirs can reduce the intensity of rainfall. Similarly, they can prevent the decrease of water level in the country and the foremost is that they can contribute to the beauty of the area wherever these dams and reservoirs have been built.

Doubts come to mind about the water of reservoirs that its stagnant water may produce stink. The stink can be removed by adding alum powder in it. All European and African countries are doing so.

Similarly, another doubt that comes to mind is the production of dengue and other dangerous aquatic insects by the stagnant water of reservoirs. It is necessary that scientists and agriculturists invent such kind of weeds and medicines as could prevent development of these harmful insects. Pakistan is an atomic power and the making of such medicines is not a difficult task.

IBRAHIM Islamabad