Floods and preventive measures
By: AGHA ALI GOHAR KHAN
THE devastating floods in 2010 and torrential rains in 2011 wreaked havoc on Sindh as a number of protective dams on both sides of the Indus were badly damaged and broken at different places. After that, work of strengthening the protective dams was started with the help of the World Bank.
The height of protective dams was to be raised to control the high level of water in the Indus during monsoon. Reportedly, the height of protective dams is being raised by reducing their width which instead of strengthening the protective dams is rather weakening them.
By reducing the width of protective dams, the same clay of the dams is being used to raise the height.
Stone pitching also seems to have been done of unspecific standard. God forbid, if the 2010-like floods again hits Sindh, the damage will be much greater than that of 2010 because of the weaker protective dams.
The authorities concerned are requested not to reduce the width of protective dams along the Indus and bring clay from other sites to raise their heights. Stone-pitching should also be carried out according to the standard design to avoid devastation in future.
Stranded victims
By: AGHA ALI GOHAR KHAN
THE recent floods triggered by heavy rains in rural areas of Sindh and Balochistan, especially in Jacobabad, Kashmore, Jaffarabad and Nasirabad, have caused widespread devastation and marooned many people.
The floods have brought agonies to the people. The flood victims, who have migrated in search of safer places, have lost their houses, wealth and livestock. These ill-fated people are deprived of the basic necessities of life and are passing their life in misery.
Like us, these people are also humans and part of this country. However, we have left them stranded. They are crying for a single morsel of food. The rising hunger pangs compel them to beg to overcome their hunger. But it is a shame that the provincial disaster management authority has not made any effort yet to help them.
Owing to lack of health facilities, many children have become victims of lethal disease like diarrhoea, malaria and hepatitis. Also, many people have fallen prey to nutritional disorders because of unavailability of food.
A large aid is funded for these ill-fated people but the expenditure is shown only on paper. These hapless people are waiting under the open sky for the government and relief organisations with a flicker of hope that they will help them.
I request the government and relief organisations to rehabilitate these flood victims and facilitate them with the basic necessities of life.
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