LAHORE:Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Friday directed the line departments to remain alert round-the-clock to deal with floods as the provincial government had decided to provide every possible resource to the administration to deal with the threat.
While chairing a meeting at his office to review the arrangements, the CM directed to construct underground water tanks in Faisalabad and other major cities to store rainwater and asked the commissioners to devise a plan in consultation with Wasa.
The CM directed the department concerned to devise a plan for storing water of Khushab’s hill-torrents and it was decided to construct a dam for this purpose. The foundation stone of a dam project in the Koh-e-Sulaiman area would be laid soon to store the water of hill-torrents for human use and irrigation purposes, he said and directed to early complete feasibility study of four dams in Koh-e-Sulaiman and sought a report about implementation of a province-wise emergency plan.
The meeting reviewed the arrangements for dealing with floods and it was decided to ensure implementation of the water drainage plan. Timely disposal of rainwater was necessary and commissioners, DCs and Wasa officials would be questioned in case of delay, he added. The citizens should not face any difficulty due to rains, the CM stressed and directed to keep in view emergent urban needs and the size of the population while planning a new sewerage system. The line departments should outline their emergency plans to deal with any untoward situation, he added and directed to monitor water flow of Sialkot nullahs. Water flow of hill-torrents in DG Khan and Rajanpur should also be monitored, he said and asked the commissioners and DCs to visit embankments in their areas.
The SMBR and irrigation secretary said that rivers water flow was normal while food and aid was provided to affectees in Mianwali village. Similarly, 180 flood camps had been established in Punjab to deal with any emergency situation and the latest radar system had also been handed over to Rescue 1122.
Meanwhile, water flow in Chenab River at Chiniot was 140,000 cusecs and water flow of Chenab River at Marala was 98,000 cusecs. The water capacity of Khanki, Balloki, Trimmu, Panjnad and Islam Barrage had been improved. Provincial Ministers Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Mian Khalid Mehmood, Secretary Local Government and others attended the meeting.
MEDICAL TREATMENT: The chief minister has taken notice of a news item aired by some news channels about the illness of a cancer patient girl student. He ordered for constituting a medical board for her treatment and said that the Punjab government would bear all the expenses. The government would also take care of her family, he added. Meanwhile, the patient has been admitted to the DHQ hospital Vehari and the CM prayed for her early recovery.
GRIEVED: Usman Buzdar has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to capsizing of a boat in the Chenab River near Chiniot.He extended sympathies to the bereaved families, sought a report from the Commissioner Faisalabad and ordered for expediting rescue operation to search for the drowned persons.
