LARKANA: Floods occur due to more rainfalls and melting of snow but there are less chances during the current year. We suffer losses due to wastage of water and we should have proper planning to store water so that water could be saved instead of wasting it.

These ideas were addressed by SUPARCO General Manager Owais Ali during a seminar arranged by Disaster Management Information System (DMIS) at a local hotel on Potential Rain and Flood Protection, here on Wednesday.

He said that during the 2010 floods and rains and especially during COVID-19, we worked hard day and night to save human lives. He further said that the Sindh government worked closely with the government and social institutions during the natural disasters in which rains, floods, earthquakes and COVID-19 occurred and they had full cooperation. He said that at each Union Council level, we learned about risk so that full planning can be made.

He said that the government of Sindh tried to give maximum relief to the people regarding the work done during the disaster. He added that we have created a 10-year contingency plan so that we can directly deal with future disasters such as rainfall, floods or any other natural disasters. He further said that National Disaster Management, Provincial Disaster Management and District Disaster Management are working together to tackle the potential catastrophic floods and rains. He further said that you should support the PDMA as well as keep in touch with the district administration during such a situation.

Speaking on the occasion, manager Suparco Yusha Anees and technical officer Saqib Nisar told the seminar that we should know the population thoroughly during floods or any other type of disaster so that they can be helped to reach the victims. They added that Disaster Management Authority offices are working in Karachi, Jamshoro and Sukkur so that arrangements can be made to tackle the coming disaster and to make maps in this regard from Union Council level. How many areas can be affected and how much can be prevented. They also said that planning should also be taken to prevent earthquake disasters.

During the seminar information was given on maps and charts to avoid potential floods and rains, and questions were answered. Officers and officials of different departments attended the seminar.