Home Floods Removal of Encroachments from Natural Waterways in Sindh urged

Removal of Encroachments from Natural Waterways in Sindh urged

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Removal of Encroachments from Natural Waterways in Sindh urged
Consultative Workshop on Resettlement & Rehabilitation Policy 2023

Participants of Consultative Workshop raise issue of damages caused by LBOD and RBOD; suggest introducing the Social Accountability

From Our Correspondent

Hyderabad

The participants of a Consultative Workshop on Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2023 underlined the need of removing the encroachments and restoring the natural waterways to avert the probable disasters during the torrential rains and the flash floods in the future in Sindh.

The workshop, organized on Thursday by Sindh government at Shahbaz Hall, was presided over by Agha Wasif Ali, provincial secretary of Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department, and attended by Secretary, Planning & Development, Sindh Faisal Uqaili, Divisional Commissioner Hyderabad Bilal Ahmed Memon, Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Fuad Ghaffar Soomro, Professor Ismail Kunbhar of Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam, representatives of various growers and social organizations, and the officials of different departments.

Speaking on this occasion, Secretary Environment and Climate Change Agha Wasif said that the purpose of holding workshop was to seek suggestions for devising an effective resettlement and rehabilitation policy so that measures could be taken for the benefit of masses affected by the last year’s unprecedented monsoon rains and flash floods.

Consultative Workshop-Sindh-Courier-1Secretary Planning & Development Faisal Uqaili informed the participants that more consultative workshops would be held so that maximum number of people can participate in consultation and formulation of policy. “Moreover, the suggestions can also be shared by general public in Sindhi, Urdu or English language on official website of Planning & Development Department of Sindh till February 19, 2023,” he said.

An official Shahzad Hassan said that Resettlement & Rehabilitation Policy 2023 will be first of its kind in Pakistan that would be enforced in all the federal and provincial projects in Sindh. “The Planning & Development Department of Sindh would be the custodian of this policy,” he said.

While appreciating the initiative for formulation of policy, the participants strongly suggested removal of encroachments from the natural waterways across the province so that massive deluges could be prevented. They also suggested improving the Land Acquisition Act.

The participants viewed that maximum participation of general public in formulation of an effective policy is necessary therefore such consultative workshops should also be organized in backward areas, especially those affected by last year’s inundation. “Seeking opinion of those, affected by Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) and Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) would be beneficial,” they urged adding that subsoil water has turned brackish in Sindh owing to these saline water drains.

Some of the participants of consultative workshop suggested introducing the social accountability. They also stressed focusing on rural areas as seventy percent of rural areas of Sindh have been devastated by the floods.

The issue of rehabilitating the small farmers of Sindh was also raised at the consultative workshop.

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