Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

minimal works at Tori after approval in principle of a scheme worth Rs.82 millions
on 4 th February 2010. The departmental contention that the Tori rehabilitation
scheme was not approved by the competent forum or Federal funds were not
provided was a crude attempt to cover up gross negligence after failure to
suppress that evidence; being an after thought, that alibi did not deserve any
credence, whatsoever.
60. Be that as it may, in the case of Sindh, the most important issues were
breach of Tori Bund in Guddu Barrage area and two other bunds built back-to-
back, namely secondary bunds of old Ghauspur and Gaurghat that together form
a triangular, virtually a semi-circular loop that had breached, with cascading
effect within 30 minutes of the breach of the main bund, and MS Bund and PB
Bunds near Thatta, all exacerbated by incompatible use of the lands nearby for
agriculture, fish farm and cattle use. The consistent positions taken by the
Irrigation officials, including the Provincial irrigation Minister that the main Tori
Bund, as also MS bund and PB bunds in Thatta-Sujawal, breached by
overtopping by exceptionally unprecedented flood levels for extended durations,
was contradicted both by public complaints that viewed Tori Bund breach as
deliberate, as also pre-flood and post-flood proceedings of the IRC, amongst
others about which the Hon’ble Minister may not have been briefed at the
relevant time in 2010. The position was inherently unsustainable, nay grossly
misleading attempt, inter-alia, on following counts:-
a. Firstly, the record of self-evident proceedings [Items no 2.a, of the
IRC meeting of 4 th February 2010 for Tori Rs.81.572 million
[Appendix-K] wherein approval was sought for certain works on
river side of the bund and other necessary repair to strengthen and
armour the Tori Bund, some six months before the floods. This
contains graphic details about the deteriorated condition of the
Bund; that status had been assessed after 2009 nominal floods and
the then Secretary Irrigation, Mr. Junejo who was Vice Chairman of
the IRC was fully aware and foretold that delay in repairs before the
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