KARACHI
Staff Report
Lamenting the slow process of draining water from the rain-hit areas of the province,
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah expressed concern on Sunday that there might be disease outbreaks there if the progress remains sluggish.
Shah was presiding over a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House.
“President Asif Ali Zardari has also expressed concern over the sluggish rain relief measures and draining of water from the affected areas,” Shah informed the participants of the meeting.
Despite the passage of a long time, there is still a large quantity of rainwater inundating many areas of Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Tando Allahyar,
Shaheed Benazirabad and Matiari districts, the chief minister observed.
Shah said he recently visited Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Sanghar
and there was still water in abundance flooding the areas there.
“There are many complaints from the general public and the media about the situation,” he said.
“Despite the availability of water suction pumps, they are not being utilized, but diesel consumption is reported regularly,” he added.
Shah said that he visited Sanghar, Tando Adam, Pithoro, Khadro, Berani and
other places, but there was no Irrigation Department officer there, but only the director of SIDA.
The chief minister warned that no negligence will be tolerated and the officers not performing their duties will be dealt with accordingly.
“I am really annoyed because a large number of people are suffering,” Shah remarked.
He directed Irrigation Department officers to ensure that encroachments built on the path of natural waterways are removed before June 2012.
He also directed that the task of dewatering be completed without further delay.
