Delayed action dams necessary to overcome flood situation: COAS Bajwa

DADU: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that Pakistan needs a long-term plan which includes “delayed action dams and water drainage system” to deal with the flood situation besides ensuring the rehabilitation of the flood victims.

The army chief made these remarks during his visit to flood-affected areas of Dadu in Sindh where he reviewed the ongoing rescue and relief operations. Gen Bajwa lauded the local authorities for their efforts in ensuring the safety of the local population.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief also spent time with victims residing in relief and medical camps in the areas. He also interacted with troops busy in rescue and relief activities.

While speaking to the media about his visit, the army chief said that he has visited almost all areas affected due to floods across Pakistan including Uthal, Naseerabad, Rajanpur, Swat, Larkana, Shahdadkot, and Khairpur but Dadu was the worst-hit area.

He said Manchar and Hamal Lake are 100km apart but have now merged and they are still engaged in relief and rescue efforts. He said the population of Dadu has increased to nearly one million and there is immense water pressure on surrounding areas.

Gen Bajwa said following the super floods in 2010, the country had prepared a strategy to deal with riverine floods, but the administration was not ready for the abnormal rainfall this year.

He said the west bank of the river overflowed and inundated Dadu and they will need to formulate a long-term strategy to deal with the situation. In this regard, he said an initial study has been conducted by the army and a report will be presented in a meeting of the prime minister and chief ministers next week.

The army chief said the rescue operations have been wrapped in in most flood-hit areas except emergency cases, whereas in Dadu, the relief and rescue work is still underway.

He said the water in the area will recede once the situation in the Indus River improves. He said authorities will require water pumps for de-watering in low-lying areas such as in Khairpur and Sukkur.

“We will have to commit to long-term planning and build dams and improve drainage systems,” the army chief added. “We will need to build more mega dams in Pakistan. I cannot say anything about the location of these dams.”

COAS Bajwa expressed concern about the outbreak of water-borne diseases in Dadu. He said military doctors have been deployed in the light of a potential outbreak of waterborne diseases.

The army chief also suggested building prefab houses to rehabilitate the people as they are durable and cost-effective. He said the village could be set up on higher ground in Sindh or Balochistan.

Gen Bajwa said Pakistan was one of the worst victims of climate change. “Pakistan’s contribution to climate change is one percent. Our glaciers in Siachen are melting. We are paying the price for other countries’ actions,” he said while calling for a globally coordinated approach.

The army chief said the global community had come forward to help Pakistan in this difficult but the nation will have to play its part in the rehabilitation of the flood victims as we cannot rely solely on foreign assistance.

He urged people from urban and rural Sindh to donate to the relief fund. The army chief later went for aerial review of flood-affected areas of Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi, Meher, and Manchar Lake.

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