President Asif Ali Zardari instructed the Sindh Irrigation Department on Wednesday to remove all the hindrances in draining rainwater in different districts of the province adversely hit by this year’s monsoon, Pakistan Today has learnt. Sources privy to the development work said these hindrances include a number of connecting bridges, watercourses, illegal encroachments and some small villages.
They said the president issued the orders at the Bilawal House, following Sindh Irrigation Secretary Khalid Haider Memon’s detailed briefing on the provincial government’s plan to drain the accumulated rainwater in Badin, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Tando Allahyar and Tando Mohammad Khan districts.
Moreover, they added, Zardari has also directed the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) to ensure all-out assistance to the irrigation department in draining stagnant water in the rain-hit districts for avoiding massive outbreak of epidemics.
During the meeting, the president emphasised urgent measures to drain the water to facilitate the stranded people so their rehabilitation could be initiated, said the sources. Zardari also urged the private sector to come forward and extend cooperation for draining the water, the sources added.
They said the heavy machinery of the irrigation department and WAPDA would be made available in the rain-hit areas to work round-the-clock to provide a smooth way for the rainwater to reach the Arabian Sea.
They also said under the proposed plan that the president has okayed, all the connecting bridges, watercourses and illegal encroachments would be bulldozed.
