Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

practices, were as relevant, as was the fact that, with a critical but
controversial change in design, the LMB had been armoured by
‘stone-pitching’ under multi-billion rupee WB project executed in
2004-06 and 2008-09, disregarding professional reservations about
structural innovations thus enforced at a cost to public and the
nation. Additionally, construction of a weir had also reportedly
contributed to intensified pressure on the LMB, though overall flood
flows were otherwise still much below the revised peak capacity of
the renovated barrage. True that the breach had cascading effect
on secondary Bunds that extensively devastated Kot Addu and
Muzaffargarh but then many people did not believe that to happen,
despite advance warnings by local officials. It is a pointer to the
need to revisit the role of the WB team that designed and
supervised Taunsa rehabilitation project during 2004-09. The
Commission took note of the exhaustive evidence produced before
the Punjab Judicial Commission that pointed out gross negligence
in delayed filling of pond area, failure in timely activation of the
gates of the Jinnah & Taunsa Barrages that may have relieved the
pressure on the two LGB and LMB breached by the force of rising
waters, before approaching dangerous levels, not to speak of
accusations of attempted pilferage of tens of millions of rupees
under the cover of bogus repair to flood damages by daring
officials, identified during preliminary departmental inquiries, as well
lower staff will need attention. It may not be advisable for this
Commission to dilate further on the outcomes and consequences of
the evidence led before the Punjab Commission in view of section 6
of Ordinance II of 1969, but it has no hesitation in flagging that the
World Bank must be sensitized to bear its part of the responsibility
for what was done by its experts for which eventually residents of
Kot Addu and Muzaffargarh were required to pay. It is also a lesson
that professional credentials and advices by DFI experts must be
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