Preparing for monsoon in Pakistan: Survey to identify unsafe buildings

Express Tribune (Pakistan): District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal on Friday directed the administration to complete a survey of the city to identify unsafe buildings before the start of the monsoon season. He said all town municipal administrations should carry out the survey in collaboration with the building planning department. He said appropriate action would be taken once the buildings were identified.

The DCO was presiding over a meeting to review the action plan and arrangements for a flood emergency. He said a central control room to monitor the arrangements would be set up at the DCO’s office. It will be operational from July 15. The additional collector will be in charge of the facility. All town municipal officers (TMO) were directed to set up similar control rooms in their respective towns.

DCO Mengal said all drains and sewers in the city should be cleaned before the start of the monsoon season. He directed the TMOs to ensure that they had a sufficient stock of de-watering sets and acquire more if there was a shortage.

The DCO directed Irrigation Department officials to make necessary arrangements for a possible flood in low-lying areas along the bank of River Ravi. He said encroachments on the river bed should be removed immediately...

The Ravi River in Pathankot, shot by PP Yoonus, public domain