Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said that all embankments of River Indus were being monitored constantly, and the flood situation in Sindh was under control. Talking to journalists here on Monday, he said that though flood had caused some damages in the NWFP and Punjab, but in Sindh the situation was fully under control by the grace of Allah.
He said that presently Guddu and Sukkur Barrages are braving flows of 545,000 and 470,000 cusecs respectively, and situation was well under control.
The minister said that country was witnessing floods after some five years and both federal and provincial governments were fully vigilant. He said that President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were personally monitoring the flood situation.
Jatoi said that in the meeting of National Economic Council it was decided that instead of temporary and makeshift arrangements, planning would be done to carry out permanent arrangements, and embankments so strengthened that could easily bear the floodwater pressure.
To a question, the minister said that India had informed about release of water in Chenab River, seven hours before the discharge. He said that the Prime Minister has released Rs 100 million for the immediate relief of flood victims and more funds would be available if so needed.
Chief Engineer Sukkur Barrage Muhammad Nawaz Memon gave a briefing to the minister about the flood situation. He said that work to fortify weak embankments had begun well before the floods.
Nawaz Memon said that SM Bund, Old Jatoi Bund, Bund near Dadu-Moro Bridge and KMS Bhanot Bund were facing increased pressure of floodwater and all these points had already been declared as sensitive. However, he said, that there was no danger of breach on embankments.
Jatoi asked the irrigation authorities to provide him with list of all equipment and machinery needed for de-silting and monitoring of river and canals, so that these could be provided immediately.
Earlier, Liaquat Jatoi undertook a whirlwind aerial visit to the flood-hit areas of Sukkur, Kashmore and Ghotki districts to assess the damage caused to crops and land of katcha area.
The minister, who was accompanied by Sindh Secretary Irrigation, Ashfaq Memon and Chairman Federal Flood Commission, I.B. Shaikh, flew out in a helicopter from Sukkur and visited flood-hit villages in the command area of Guddu and Sukkur Barrages.
During the visit, Jatoi found large tracts of katcha land from Sukkur to Guddu, inundated by floodwater. He said more than 60 percent of the katcha area between Sukkur and Gudu Barrages had been inundated with floodwater since last week.
TALKING TO APP: the minister said a long-term strategy would be devised soon to combat the flood spell in the coming years to avert losses to people and their belongings. Jatoi said he had asked the Sindh Irrigation Department to co-ordinate with flood control departments.
He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had asked him to undertake visits to flood-affected areas and starting from Kotri Barrage on July 9, he had now with him a complete picture of the losses sustained in the recent flood in Sukkur and Guddu Barrage area.
The minister said he would also submit recommendations to the Prime Minister in this regard so that future flood-related losses are averted through what he called "a long-term planning".
Jatoi said the losses which the people of katcha area had suffered in the recent flood will be mitigated by the federal and provincial governments through a chain of relief measures.
The minister expressed satisfaction that there had been only a couple of casualties due to flood and added that the local authorities had been directed to maintain vigil and be careful to help people evacuation from the flood-hit areas.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held at Flood Relief Centre, established at the General Headquarters Rawalpindi, to review the flood situation and ongoing relief and rescue operations undertaken by Pakistan Army.
Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Tariq Majid chaired the meeting and was briefed about the latest flood situation in the Rivers Sutlej, Chenab, Sindh, Ravi, Kabul and Swat. He was also apprised about the arrangements made by army regarding rescue and relief operation in the flood-hit areas.
The meeting reviewed that due to current floods the damages recorded were far less than what could have been in view of the intensity of the flood and it was made possible due to timely warning and prompt response to the call of civil administration for carrying out rescue operation by the army.
It was noted that necessary resources were mobilised to rescue the stranded people in floodwater and provide them relief.
The participants of the meeting were apprised that troops undertook rescue operations right from the outset when information was received about flood in Rivers Swat and Kabul.
It may be mentioned here that Pakistan Army has a standard operating procedure to carry out relief and rescue operations for which plans are kept ready and preparations are ensured particularly closer to the flood season.
OUR ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT ADDS: According to the daily water situation report of Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Monday, 53,335 cusecs water was being released into the canals from the Sukkur Barrage; upstream discharge was 453,560; 32,730 cusecs was released into canals from Guddu Barrage; upstream discharge was 545,923 cusecs, 37,822 cusecs from Kotri Barrage; upstream discharge 106,577 cusecs.
In the upper regions of the country, mean outflow in River Indus at Tarbela was 217,300 cusecs, Kalabagh 262,258 cusecs, Chashma 282,385 cusecs, Taunsa 243,499 cusecs, River Kabul at Nowshera 122,200 cusecs and River Chenab 106,577 cusecs.
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