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Do not invite nature’s wrath

jha

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Dec 19, 2009
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To describe the irreversibility of events and the determination of socio-historic forces, Waris Shah’s favorite expression was “Vagan paiy dariya na kadi murrde” (The rivers bent on flowing cannot be stopped).

For the last few years Pakistan’s rivers are honouring Waris Shah’s depiction when, in monsoon season, they reclaim the paths that have been usurped by human intruders by way of a quickly multiplying population, anarchy, and lack of governance. The rivers are giving an early warning to every Pakistani that if you mutilate nature, then it will take a very cruel revenge one day. And nature’s revenge is so tough that if the earthquake in the Washington DC area last month had lasted 20 more seconds, very few people would have been left to tell the story

People have encroached river beds, and not only cultivate there, but have made brick houses as well. Given the Indus Water Basin Treaty in Pakistan’s rivers like Ravi and Sutlej, there is hardly any water during the winter but that does not mean that they will be dry in monsoons as well. If India does not utilise most of monsoon water to fill its dams built on Ravi and Sutlej, most of central and western Punjab will be drowned by floods. India has no choice but to release water after its dams are filled. And, taking the worst scenario of evil Indian intentions that Pakistanis assume anyway, if instead of filling its dams it lets the excessive water flow, areas around Ravi and Sutlej will see a great human tragedy because of hurdles created in the river beds.

In Pakistan, instead of making better arrangements for excessive water discharge, human encroachments have blocked the old drainage systems. Pakistan‘s government, at all levels, should take sewerage disposal and water drainage its top development priority. Every locality, small villages or big cities, should be mandated to have drainage systems ready before next monsoon. The developers and constructors, whether building residential dwellings or making metal roads should have a legal binding and liability to first make safe drainage system before they do anything else. Communities should be made liable through legislation, if there is none already, to take collective responsibility for making arrangements of disposing of sewerage and rain water. A compulsory drainage disposal fee should be charged as part of land revenue or property taxes.

Do not invite nature’s wrath | | DAWN.COM
 
^^ This year's ..
Oh gosh!! Seems like this year also flood effect is very damaging. I was of the opinion that this year's floods are some small flash floods kind of thing!!
Last time there was an extensive coverage all over the world and atleast some nations came forward to help. This time around why there is no coverage!!
 
Over 300 killed, six million affected in Sindh floods | Provinces | DAWN.COM

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ISLAMABAD: Recent floods in Sindh caused by monsoon rains have killed almost 300 people and affected six million others causing damage to an area of 7.987 million of land destroying many crops.
According to NDMA, all 23 districts of Sindh, namely Badin, TM Khan, Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Thatta, Tando Allayar, Naushero Feroze, Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Sanghar, Dadu, Shahdad Kot, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Kamber-Shahdadkot, Kashmore, Ghotki, Larkana, Matiari and Karachi have been affected by the floods.

The floods have fully damaged 5,39,899 houses while another 8,48,412 houses have suffered partial damage.

More than 80,000 livestock have been washed away by flood waters in Sindh while crops like cotton, banana, dates, chilli and sugarcane on 2,800,000 acres have been destroyed or affected. About 31,960 villages have been badly affected by the floods.

The first spell of rain that started on August 11 mainly affected seven districts of the Sindh province, while an ongoing second spell hit the entire province, including Karachi.

On September 7, President Asif Ali Zardari took an aerial view of the flooded areas of Benazirabad District, Mirpur, Jhaddo, Kot Ghulam Muhammad and Nohkot and personally saw the devastation on wide scale.

President Zardari directed the federal and provincial governments as well as the concerned authorities to gear up to provide relief to the flood-affected people.

President Zardari has also appealed to the international community to provide humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance for the millions of people affected by this year’s floods.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who had cancelled his visit to the United States, due to the floods had also appealed to the international community and philanthropists at home and abroad to step forward and help the government rescue and rehabilitate victims of the recent torrential rains and flash floods in Sindh.

Prime Minister Gilani has also constituted a high-level committee to supervise, monitor and coordinate relief and rehabilitation efforts in the rain affected areas of Sindh.

Pakistan Cards are being issued by the government to provide financial assistance to the flood victims and Rs 20,000 will be given to each affected family.

The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) has allocated Rs.258 million and started relief work to help 400,000 displaced people in 14 union councils badly ravaged by the raging flood waters.

Pakistan Army has been busy in rescue and relief operation and so far rescued more than 100,000 marooned people along with their cattle from various water inundated areas.

Pakistan Navy teams are also busy in rescue work in the flood affected areas and have evacuated 11,000 victims.

In response to the appeal of President Zardari, China has announced that it will supply relief goods worth $4.5 million for Pakistan’s flood victims. Iran has announced $100 million aid for the rehabilitation of the rain-affected people of Sindh. Japan has announced emergency relief goods worth $450,000. The relief goods include tents, water purifiers and medicines.

South Korea has decided to provide emergency assistance worth $200,000 in relief goods.

The European Commission announced that 10 million euros would be provided in emergency relief.

Donations by Germany for the flood victims in Pakistan have increased to over $210 million.

The Red Cross Society of China has donated $50,000 in cash as emergency aid to Pakistan.

The UN-led humanitarian community in Pakistan is seeking $337 million from donor countries for an emergency response plan to support the government in addressing the needs of flood-affected families in Sindh.

The United States is sending food aid for nearly 350,000 and medical assistance for about 500,000 people.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon formally called on the international community to help Pakistan respond to the humanitarian needs of flood victims.

A team of UN agencies is currently visiting the affected areas for a needs assessment.
 

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