HYDERABAD, June 25: District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil has declared emergency in the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and cancelled leaves of all the employees in the wake of heavy rains and windstorm, which have so far done serious damage to the life and property of people across the province.

The district government had set up 32 relief camps in different parts of the district, and a central emergency room at the district nazim secretariat, which would work round the clock, the nazim said while chairing a meeting of district government officials here on Sunday.

He said that capacity of all the pumping stations had been raised manifold and generators had been made available at all the pumping stations to ensure uninterrupted draining of water in case of accumulation of water.

Mr Jamil said that the district government was fully prepared to face heavy rains the meteorological office had forecast for Hyderabad during the monsoon season. A survey had been carried out through satellite of all the areas which had been seriously affected during last year's heavy rains, he claimed.

He said that in addition to long-term planning, Rs491.20 million had been spent on short-term schemes.

The capacity of Latifabad pumping stations had been increased from 26,600 gallons per minute to 74,260 gallons, city pumping station from 7,900 gallon per minute to 20,400 gallons and Qasimabad from 5,700 to 22,200 gallons per minute. Storm-water drains and nullahs had been cleansed and desilted and cess pool tankers had been provided to Qasimabad, Latifabad and city talukas.

The district had also constructed protective bunds to protect rural population against possible floods, he said.

Mr Jamil informed the meeting that emergency centres were also being established in the offices of DCO, EDO of revenue and director general of Hyderabad Development Authority while a central emergency centre was being established at his own secretariat.

He directed the revenue officers and mukhtiarkar to inspect the river and canals’ embankments along with irrigation officials and strengthen weak points.

District Naib Nazim Zafar Rajput, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Aftab Khatri, nazims of city and Latifabad talukas, director general of HDA, SE Hesco, civil defence officers and army represented by Lt Col Laeeq Afzaal. DPO Khalid Mustafa Korai and senior district officials attended the meeting.