950808

'Govt planning

to arrest

flood water

for irrigation'

KARACHI: Sindh Government is embarking upon a stupendous flood control and protection plan to use flood water to irrigate and cultivate lacs of acres of land in Thano Bula Khan and in between Dadu and Karachi Districts.

The initial details of the plan were unfolded by Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Abdullah Shah, in an exclusive interview to APP after his return here from a hectic visit to flood-hit areas of Dadu, Larkana, Jacobabad and Nawabshah Districts.

In this regard, the Chief Minister said, the water of "Nai Gaaj", which flows round the year carrying water of hill torrents to Manchar Lake from where it was drained out into River Indus through Ural and Danastar Canals, can be used not only for irrigation purposes but also for meeting water needs of Karachi.

For this purpose it has been proposed to dig a canal from Manchar which after passing through Thano Bula Khan area will be brought to Hub dam to carry the minerally rich mountainous waters for supply to Karachi as well using it for irrigating lacs of acres of land lying arid.

He pointed out that recent studies have shown that catchment area of Nai Gaaj was not spread over three or four thousand miles but still far beyond. The Gaaj not only carries water of hill torrents but water comes from far beyond - may be from Iran and some other areas. What substantiate this supposition is that this Nai Gaaj keep flowing round the year even when there were no rains or hill torrents, the Chief Minister added.

He said this water remains undisposed of when River Indus flowed in high flood and Manchar water remained undrained or even otherwise it goe waste. He said it was unfortunate that no one paid any attention towards this in the past.

He said he has already ordered the Irrigation Department to prepare PC-1 of the plan alongwith the aerial photography of catchment areas of Nai Gaaj and the route for proposed canal which would have a discharge capacity of 50,000 cusecs.

Syed Abdullah Shah said this 70-80 mile long canal will, thus, serve dual purpose - firstly in flood protection and secondly in irrigating arid lands.

Shah said that besides this Sindh Government has approached the Federal Government for full restoration and repair of 186 mile long F.P. Bund in Dadu and Larkana Districts. He said the restoration work will envisage stone pitching of the Bund to face the onslaught of hill torrents.

He said that Sindh Government is preparing a massive rehabilitation programme for people affected by flood in Dadu and Larkana Districts.

In this regard Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has ordered preparation of PC-1 and its submission to her for approval.

He said priority had been given to shifting of marooned people to safer place through boats. He said in cases where their shifting was not possible, they were supplied ration through dropping by helicopter.

The Chief Minister said that some 500,000 people have been affected by flood in Dadu and Larkana districts alone and Prime Minister has asked for preparation of PC-1 within two weeks for their rehabilitation.

GUDDU STILL IN

SUPER FLOOD

River Indus continued to be in super flood stage at Guddu with water discharge recorded at 9.40 lakh cusecs at 6.00 p.m. According to Irrigation Department sources the river will remain steady at this gauging station during the next 24 hours.

At Sukkur the river was flowing in super flood stage with a discharge of 9.42 lakh cusecs and would fall during the next 24 hours.

The river continued to swell at Kotri and a discharge of 5.54 lakh cusecs.

Meanwhile, most of the breaches in F.P. Bund and MNV Drain have been plugged whereas closing operation on remaining breaches was in progress.

CHENAB, RAVI IN

HIGH FLOODS

The rivers Chenab and Ravi were flowing in high flood at Punjnad and Sidhnai on Tuesday afternoon with discharges of 415467 cusecs and 78715 cusecs respectively.

According to National Flood Forecasting Bureau (NFFB), the river Chenab was flowing in medium flood at Trimmu, discharging 165470 cusecs. The discharges and limits of these recorded at different sites at 12.00 noon on Tuesday were:-

Marala: 102690 cusecs (low flood), Khanki: 78410 cusecs (normal) and Qadirabad: 85591 cusecs (normal).

WATTOO DISSATISFIED

WITH AGENCIES WORKING

The Punjab Chief Minister Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo has expressed displeasure over poor performance of agencies responsible for maintenance of civic amenities in the northern part of the provincial metropolis during current rainy season and suspended two officials on charge of dereliction of duty.

The suspension orders were passed by the chief executive of the province during his two-and-half-hour visit of northern zone which was badly hit by the current spell of rain.

The 100-vehicle cavalcade of the Chief Minister which frequently got trapped in the knee-deep sluggish water and filthy mud emitting foul smell, included Chief Secretary Punjab, senior officials of the Lahore Development Authority, Water and Sanitation Agency, local administration, senior police officials and a team of local journalists.

Wattoo also put on a suspension sanitary inspector when the residents complained choking of gutters at various places in the northern part of the city.

RELIEF GOODS

The first consignment of relief goods for the flood victims of Dadu contributed by the philanthropists was despatched here on Tuesday.

The relief goods were donated at a camp established in the office of the Deputy Commissioner South following the appeal by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to the citizens to contribute generously to the relief measures.

KHARAL'S DIRECTIVE

Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Khalid Ahmed Khan Kharal has directed the divisional administration to speed up the work for the rehabilitation of flood affectee on top priority basis. He was addressing a selected gathering of the divisional and district administration at circuit house. He said that present government was fully alive to the sufferings of the masses in riverine areas where floods and rains have played havoc.

COMPENSATION

Sindh Agriculture Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that government will compensate losses caused during the recent flood and rains to life and property in Sindh. Addressing the affected people after visiting re-strengthened patches at Bakhri Bund along with Sindh Minister for Law and Parliamentary Pir Mazharul Haq, he said that government had already announced agricultural package for the affected growers in the province. He said affected growers will be extended loans for re-cultivation of their affected lands.

LHC CALLS FOR REPORT

Mr. Justice Irshad Hassan Khan, Acting Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court has called for a report about the losses and damages caused to the courts/office buildings due to recent rains. The Registrar, LHC has issued instructions to all the district and session Judges in the Punjab to thoroughly inspect the court buildings in their respective jurisdiction and report about the extent of loss occurred due to rains. They are also directed to make efforts to have the damage repaired immediately so that no further loss is caused to the court/office buildings.

LONE HANDS OVER DONATION TO PM

Ex-MNA of PPP from Gujranwala, Khawaja Muhammad Aslam Lone, presented a cheque for Rs. one lakh to Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as donation towards the PM's Flood Relief Fund, in a meeting at Prime Minister's House. The Prime Minister appreciated this gesture of the ex-MNA and hoped that other effluent people of the society would follow suit and help their fellow brethren now facing enormous difficulties in the wake of severe floods and torrential rains.

MAKHDOOM SHAHABUDDIN

Federal State Minister for Finance Makhdoom Shahabuddin visited Minchin bund and other flood effected areas of Rahimyarkhan. He was accompanied by commissioner Bahawalpur Tariq Mahmood, Deputy Commissioner Syed Raees Abbas Zaidi and army officer and alliance departments.

He addressed the people of flood effected areas and assured that govt would not abandon them during such critical time. Their financial assistance will also be made and Maliya Abiyana be exempted. He announced the electrification of neglected area of Nonari be completed during the financial year.

HEAVY RAINS FEARED

Heavy rains may lash the southern Punjab and the catchments of the river Sutlej if the monsoon low presently over the Indian city of Alwar continues its movement. These apprehensions were expressed by the Director National Flood Forecasting Bureau, Abdul Majid at a press briefing here Tuesday evening. He said that the low was expected to start affecting Pakistan territories within next 48 hours by causing rains over the Northern Punjab including Lahore. Presently there are two monsoon low affecting the weather conditions in Pakistan in addition to the seasonal low, a permanent feature in the country.-APP/PPI