Strategy being Devised to Permanently Avoid Widespread Flash Flood Losses in Karachi: Chairman NDMA
Image Credits: Associated Press pf Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Aug 2 (APP): Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal Sunday said a two-pronged strategy has been devised in collaboration with stake holders to avoid flash flood losses in Karachi permanently. Talking to the media, he said work on a short term strategy would be started from Monday to minimise flash flood losses up to an optimum level during the next two to three wet spells expected in August and September. Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) would start cleansing main nullahs from Monday and the local corps of the Pakistan Army has also been tasked for giving relief to people from flash floods. The work would be started on Monday to mitigate the suffering of people. NDMA will provide all possible assistance.
He said efforts have already started to evolve a long term solution to mitigate the woes of Karachiites by taking all stake holders including federal, provincial, local governments, etc on board for a permanent solution of overflowing nullahs and roads. “We should give relief to the people with joint collaborated efforts. The flash flood losses would remain in check during the August and September rains. Afterwards a permanent solution would be in place for getting rid of flash floods.”
He said encroachments abound around most of the nullahs of Karachi. The widths of most of the nullahs have been narrowed from 400 meters to three to four meters. He said Karachi produces over 20,000 tonnes solid waste per day. This solid waste has become a bane for existence as compared to other countries where solid waste is utilized for producing electricity. The water has already receded on the roads of metropolitan city, he said adding that according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department predictions the weather will remain dry in Karachi in the next six days.
The next wet spell will start from August 7 and last till August 10. Another one or two days spell is expected from August 15, however the expectations of rain were 40 percent. Yet another spell would be from 24th to 26th, when the chances of rain will be 60 to 65 percent.
Responding to a question, he said that due to the prudent measures taken the COVID19 situation has improved. The number of deaths are at their lowest. He urged adherence to standard operating procedures for containing the COVID19 pandemic. He fears that the situation may worsen in Muharram-ul-Haram if SOPs are not followed. He said the government has added 3,000 oxygenated beds and a sufficient quantity of ventilators were also in a godown. NDMA has over 700,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in stock. Some 141 laboratories have the facility of COVID testing.
Preparations were complete to cope with the onslaught of desert locusts; nine spray planes and 250,000 pesticides were in stocks. Provinces have also build capacity to cope with the fresh influx of desert locusts. NDMA will have 388 sprayers on August 20 as compared to only 14 right now.
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