WATER LEVEL AT KOTRI TO CROSS 9 LAKHS CUSECS MARK : KAIRA
ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 : Federal Minister for Information and & Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Monday that presently 8,90,183 cusecs water is flowing through Kotri barrage which may further rise and might cross nine lakh cusecs mark in coming few days. While addressing a press conference on flood situation alongwith Pakistan Baitul Maal Managing Director Zamurrud Khan, and Peoples Labour Bureau head Chaudhry Manzoor, said that it is predicted that after a few days water level at Kotri would fall to 7 to eight lakh cusecs which would continue for seven to eight days.
He said that at Guddu 7,33,000 cusecs and at Sukkur barrage 8,27,000 cusec water is flowing. About the Sutluj river,he said that Indian reservoirs on this river are filled to the capacity and if more rains occur in the catchment areas, India may release water in the river, causing problems for those living in river bank areas. Kaira said that during next few days there is likelihood of more rains in upper Punjab, Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa but these would not be heavy rains.
He said that due to marine high tide at the moment, there is a chance that high flood situation would remain downstream Kotri for next few days. The minister told the media that confirmed death toll is 1539, while 2055 persons have been injured. He said that according to assessment made so far 1226678 houses have been damaged, while 2248 camps and 1657 tent villages have been established in the flood-hit areas.
To a question,he said that so far Rs 1.60 billion have been deposited in the Prime Minister’s relief fund and this amount does not include the amount being deducted from salaries and the funds collected by Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad. About the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), he said that we should not indulge in technicalities. Rather we should look at practicality.
He said that all the estimates about losses were preliminary as no government in the world can make assessment of damage in standing waters.He opined that there was no need for donors conference at the provincial level as the federal government has set up council which would ensure judicious distribution of resources besides transparency.
The Minister said that C-130s from Pakistan,the United States and other friendly countries are participating in the rescue and relief operation.
About the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief statement asking Army generals to take action against corrupt politicians, he said, it is against the constitution. “Democracy in the country had been restored after rendering unmatched sacrifices and the statement of the MQM leader is surprising for us”.He said the government will take up the issue with the MQM.
To a question about the formation of supervisory commission on flood relief and reconstruction activity he said 80 percent of demands of Mian Nawaz Sharif have been accepted by the government in the setting up of National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC).
He further said it was imperative for the government to take all the provinces on board regarding the setting up of commission. He further said Mian Shahbaz Sharif has not raised any objection over the setting of NODMC.
He said that due to marine high tide at the moment, there is a chance that high flood situation would remain downstream Kotri for next few days. The minister told the media that confirmed death toll is 1539, while 2055 persons have been injured. He said that according to assessment made so far 1226678 houses have been damaged, while 2248 camps and 1657 tent villages have been established in the flood-hit areas.
To a question,he said that so far Rs 1.60 billion have been deposited in the Prime Minister’s relief fund and this amount does not include the amount being deducted from salaries and the funds collected by Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad. About the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), he said that we should not indulge in technicalities. Rather we should look at practicality.
He said that all the estimates about losses were preliminary as no government in the world can make assessment of damage in standing waters.He opined that there was no need for donors conference at the provincial level as the federal government has set up council which would ensure judicious distribution of resources besides transparency.
The Minister said that C-130s from Pakistan,the United States and other friendly countries are participating in the rescue and relief operation.
About the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief statement asking Army generals to take action against corrupt politicians, he said, it is against the constitution. “Democracy in the country had been restored after rendering unmatched sacrifices and the statement of the MQM leader is surprising for us”.He said the government will take up the issue with the MQM.
To a question about the formation of supervisory commission on flood relief and reconstruction activity he said 80 percent of demands of Mian Nawaz Sharif have been accepted by the government in the setting up of National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC).
He further said it was imperative for the government to take all the provinces on board regarding the setting up of commission. He further said Mian Shahbaz Sharif has not raised any objection over the setting of NODMC.
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