950805

Flood-hit farmers to

be provided seeds

free of cost: Shah

HYDERABAD: The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Abdullah Shah has said that under the directives of the Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, all efforts were being made for the rehabilitation of five lakh flood affectees of Dadu district.

Talking to a representative of Radio Pakistan at his native village Wahur, district Dadu on Saturday, the chief minister said that after draining out flood water, the government would provide seeds of various crops to flood-hit farmers free of cost so that they could cultivate their agriculture land.

He informed that a comprehensive plan is being prepared to rehabilitate the flood affected people at their villages so that they could once again play their role for the development and progress of the country.

About the flood situation, the chief minister informed that over 11 lakh cusecs of flood water had passed safely from the barrages of Sindh in past and at present, the peak was recorded 10 lakh cusecs of water at Guddu Barrage, which already passed through Sukkur Barrage and now passing from Naushero Feroze District. With the grace of Almighty God, he said, it is hoped that the flood peak will safely pass through Sindh.

The chief minister informed that when the super flood entered in Guddu Barrage, he alongwith the minister for irrigation and power, visited the Right Bank of mighty Indus River at Guddu Barrage area.

At Tori Bund, he said there was a high pressure of flood water, however, the Army, Rangers, police and the employees of Irrigation Department were busy to strengthen the bund. The strengthening work wa in full swing at the vulnerable points of K. K. Bund, while spurs are being built at Aqil Agani Bund to divert the flood water presure from the bund, the chief minister said.

Syed Abdullah Shah informed that he has also visited the bunds of the Right Bank of the Indus River at Larkana and Dadu and found these bunds satisfactory.

The chief minister said that he has spent whole night at the protective bunds at Nawabshah and Naushero Feroze districts, while he took surprise check at the Mud Bunglow Bund near Sakrand, where the flood water hitting the bund. At Taluka Kandiro, he said that the flood water has started creating breach at Bakhri Bund and added the strengthening of the vulnerable points, a second defence line loop bund has also been built there.

The chief minister informed that he alongwith Sindh ministers is personally superivsing the flood situation as well as protective embankments and his check will continue till the flood water passes through Kotri Barrage and drop into Arabian Sea.

About the Manchar Lake, the chief minister informed that the water pressure has been decreased there and the situation is out of danger.

The chief minister said that the vulnerable points of the bund of Manchar Lake had been strengthened while 25 breaches, occurred in flood protective bund in also being plugged rapidly.

Syed Abdullah Shah informed that a long term project was being prepared for strengthening the flood protective bund and main Nara valley drain so that in future, such destruction could be avoided in district Dadu.-APP