Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

questions to depose that on its inception, the NHA inherited a large
network of roads that now extends to 12,000 km besides other
related infrastructure. It was stated that highways/ motorways built
in the flood plains are elevated from their natural level and
admittedly constitute obstructions in the natural water flows but due
care was taken at the design stage to ensure smooth flow of water.
The designs respond to the unforeseen contingencies with
appropriate provision for breaches of the roads, with minimal
damages, a claim not fully borne out by blockage of flood water and
consequential overtopping of Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway (M-
1), north of Peshawar and Dera Allah Yar Jacobabad by-pass.
Extensive encroachments in the right of way and around major
roads also disrupt the human settlements and natural flows of
waters. He noted that damage to road infrastructure due to 2010
floods was estimated at Rs.18 billion; its reconstruction cost is
projected at Rs.22 billion.
SECTION-3
THE PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES
a. The KP representatives of Irrigation Department confirmed
maintenance of 541 bunds / spurs with 286.3 km length that
included 44 on Indus River, in addition to 3 out of 52 Marginal
Bunds along the Indus and 96 retaining walls erected for flood
protection. Of these, 21 spurs had been abandoned after
construction of Chashma Barrage. A portion of Guide-Bund that
breached in D.I. Khan region was swiftly attended to and potential
damage contained. As no breach section was deemed necessary in
the existing infrastructure, the question of observance of the SOPs
or otherwise was not considered relevant in KP.
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