KARACHI: Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh for Information and Archives, Moula Bux Chandio said on Saturday that PML-N government should activate National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), IRSA and Wapda in real manner as part of expected flood protection measures and provide sufficient funds to Sindh for strengthening Indus River’s dyes.
“Though this is the main work of federal government to strengthen dykes of Indus River, take precautionary measures and allocate all required emergency funds in view of expected floods and rain-devastations, but this work is being alone done by Sindh government. The Centre have deprived Sindh of due share in funds including those for flood protection, while share from gas and oil resources have also been reduced by 50%, which is great injustice”.
He said the province has even been deprived of payment of the curtailed share since last three years. He said the PML-government also seems lethargic to activate NDMA, IRSA and Wapda in real manner as these national institutions need to prepare a joint national action plan and coordinate with the provincial governments, including Sindh. The federal government needs to provide necessary technical assistance and special financial assistance to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (Sindh) for tackling expected floods, he said.
The advisor said that Sindh government has taken proper measures to tackle expected floods from Indus River. Floods are likely to hit Sindh, and therefore, precautionary measures are necessary to be taken forthwith, he said. All district government in Sindh should also devise their comprehensive plans in view of expected floods and heavy rains forecast. They should monitor the sensitive points of River Indus’dykes and strengthen all vulnerable points of all dykes. He said that hospitals across Sindh should also establish their strategic plans to meet any emergency situations during floods.
Chandio also advised Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) and district governments in Sindh to cleanse water channels and strengthen River Indus’s dykes ahead of floods so as to avoid human and financial losses. All successive PPP governments, under the dynamic leadership of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari paid great attention towards flood issues and provided relief to all affectees.
He said PPP government in Sindh is also making all out efforts to strengthen dykes in Sindh, while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also issued special instructions for precautionary measures in view of expected floods. The advisor said that media should also expand coverage on expected flood situation so that more effective measures could be taken to save life and property of masses.
