KARACHI, Sept 18: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that a plan has been prepared to drain out rainwater that has accumulated in various areas of Karachi and Hyderabad. He said he himself would monitor implementation of the plan.

Talking to various delegations at the CM’s House here on Monday, he said rain-affected people would be rehabilitated on humanitarian grounds. He said that the provincial government had been carrying out relief work in all districts. He said he was determined to prevent any bid to misuse the relief funds.

Dr Arbab stressed the need for revamping drainage system in all districts of the province so that people could be saved from facing hardship often caused by rains and flooding.

The chief minister stressed the need for long-term planning to improve the drainage system across the province, and said that local bodies had failed to ensure proper draining in cities and towns over the past many years. In rural areas also, there existed no provision of draining rainwater into nullahs. He said that due to these shortcomings, people had to face a lot of hardship during the recent rains.

Dr Arbab said that he had requested the prime minister for the remodelling of the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD). He said that planning was initiated to revive natural waterways in different districts.

He told the delegations that the government wanted to construct a drain system between Nara and Jamrao canals in Sanghar district.

The chief minister said that the prime minister had approved a plan for the construction of Mukhi Farsh Canal for Umerkot which would help make this area green.—PPI