Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

CHAPTER-5
ANALYSIS OF THE OFFICIAL EVIDENCE
44. Divergent views have been expressed with respect to the causes of
breaches: The Petitioners did not mince words in alleging politically motivated
interventions that traded off water induced devastations, to save direct hit in one
area to inflict loss on the other, more vulnerable. This was, however, vehemently
contested by the incumbent and retired officials of Sindh and Balochistan,
responsible for flood management. Before analysing the weight of public
contentions, comprehension of following objectives, official instruments or SOPs
developed with over 100 years of experience of construction, inspections and
maintenance of flood protection works may be instructive:
a. Dams, barrages and canals maintained by Federal or
Provincial Authorities: Elaborate SOPs including mathematical
formulae-based tools have been specified to regulate water
distribution, record the water intake and releases throughout the
year and especially during SW monsoon seasons taking into
account historical data of the controlled structures and major
reservoirs in terms of low, medium, high, exceptionally high and
Super Floods.
b. In the Punjab safety of the controlled irrigation structures is the top-
most management objective.
c. The Sindh SOPs based in the Sindh Bund Manual are rooted in the
concept of containing the Indus within its banks as it approaches
any of the three barrages. For the purpose with effect from 1976
bunds/ embankments are required to be maintained at a height six
feet above the historical highest flood level, called freeboard.
Periodical inspections of bunds, immediately after the flood season,
and initiating requisite repair and upgradation is expected. Indus
River Commission has specified a set of forms required to be
Page 108 of 211