KARACHI - Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has expressed concern over slow draining out of rainwater from several rain-affected areas and feared outbreak of diseases in case of non-drainage.
Presiding over a meeting held at the CM House on Monday, he said that President Asif Ali Zardari has also expressed concern over the draining out of rainwater from the affected areas.
The CM said that despite lapse of long time, there is still big quantity of rainwater present in many localities of Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tharparkar, Tando Allahyar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Matiari districts.
The CM further said that he had visited Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Sanghar the other day where rainwater is still present in abundance. He further said that there were huge complaints from general public and media that rainwater was still there and creating many problems.
Qaim said despite availability of water pumps, the same were not utilised but the diesel had been shown consumed regularly. “I visited Sanghar, Tando Adam, Pithoro, Khadro, Berani and other places but there was no officer of Irrigation Department except a Director of SIDA.”
The chief minister warned that no negligence will be allowed and persons responsible will be dealt accordingly.
He directed that the Irrigation Department should maintain the drains properly before June 2012.
He also directed that the task of dewatering assigned by President of Pakistan and Sindh government be completed without further delay. The CM directed the Sindh Irrigation Minister to take strict action against negligent and careless officers of Irrigation Department including Superintending Engineers and XENs. He also directed the Chief Secretary Sindh to hold meeting of all Deputy Commissioners and should evolve strategy to combat the situation in case there is heavy rain this year also.
Sindh Irrigation Irrigation Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Sindh Home Secretary Sohail Akbar Shah, Sindh Irrigation Secretary Babar Affendi and others gave the briefing. They assured that the directives will be fully followed in letter and spirit. The meeting was also attended by Principal Secretary to CM Agha Jan Akhtar and Special Secretary to CM Dr Atta Muhammad Panhwar.