HYDERABAD: Deputy Commissioner Fuad Soomro has recommended to Commissioner Nadeemur Rehman Memon that a blanket ban be imposed on approval of the housing schemes sought to be executed in flood zone.

His letter to this effect appeared to be a presentation to the commissioner after he took up such housing schemes with relevant authorities.

About the questionable schemes, the DC wrote that “pesky question about cancellation of approved schemes by HDA and irrigation authorities has to be dealt with more caution and in consultation with HDA and law department. The step may entail unending litigation as highlighted by Director HDA (planning & development control department) on Feb 6, 2018”.

It is pertinent to mention here that the divisional administration and Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Sida) have remained selective in dealing with the whole issue, sparing a major 18-acre scheme along the main left bank dyke of Indus River while cancelling seven other old schemes downstream Kotri barrage. Both Sida and the divisional administration have been maintaining a discreet silence over the huge scheme along the main dyke for inexplicable reasons.

Big population, vital installations will be at risk if constructions made within the area, commissioner told

The DC dwelt at length on the issue of settlements in the riverine area (flood zone) in the shape of housing schemes, villages etc. He wrote the letter on March 30 after taking up the issue of seven schemes with the irrigation authorities and Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA).

He recalled that this office had previously raised the point of construction of housing schemes in flood zone of Indus river on Dec 12, 2017. It was again discussed on Feb 22, 2018 by the administration through a letter to civic agencies but housing schemes and settlements increased “with expressed or implied consent of irrigation authorities even in close proximity of protective bund in Indus river”.

He found that “the first no objection certificate for conversion of land from agricultural to residential was given in 1985 by chief engineer Kotri barrage in Deh Jamshoro”. “Flooding has been an important issue in Deh Giddu Mal (part) and Deh Malh for irrigation and district administration Hyderabad as there is no protective or loop bund for area.”

He said that considering an inevitable increase in the number of human settlements and population in parts of Deh Giddu Mal and Deh Malh, HDA’s 115th governing body decided to consider housing in such areas by construction of 7-km-long protective bund not only to protect local inhabitants but also vital government installations like gird station and connecting roads. He further said that “this governing body meeting was attended by high level officers of irrigation department yet no objection was raised about such proposition at that time”.

Need for protective bund

In the aftermath of 2010 super floods, then Hyderabad commissioner wrote to irrigation department on July 14, 2011 expressing his concern not only over housing schemes and various villages situated along Mulakatiar road, Deh Malh, part of Deh Giddu Mal and people residing in the areas adjacent to Gulistan-i-Sarmast. He reiterated decision of HDA’s governing body and wanted construction of protective bund and extending of the existing bund from unit-10 Latifabad to Gulistan-i-Sarmast hosing scheme road.

Responding to the July 14 letter, irrigation authorities informed then commissioner that proposal could only be approved by competent authority but needed to be processed by the Indus River Commission (IRC) first.

The DC noted that the matter remained on the back burner for the next six years – 2011 to 2017 – as irrigation authorities did not take it up and dealt with it in a perfunctory manner during this period. “Considerable number of housing units were built and [third party] interest of thousands of people was created while irrigation authorities looked the other way”.

He observed that right now physical and financial interests of thousands of people [in the shape of housing schemes] was a fait accompli in many schemes for which NOCs were given by irrigation authorities.

Revival of natural waterways

The DC suggested revival of dhoras (natural waterways) in the riverine area as per the deh map. They would be advantageous in flood. The deh maps of Giddu Mal and Malh suggest a number of waterways. Mukhtiarkars of Latifabad and Estate Hyderabad have verified revenue record and confirmed most dhoras were mutated in government’s name in record.

This [revival of dhoras] would ensure protection to human settlements. Survey and technical input may be sought by irrigation department. If feasible, HDA and irrigation authorities should jointly carry out restoration of dhoras in Deh Malh and part of Deh Giddu Mal after getting expert opinion. This would benefit local villagers and other inhabitants and would not require a huge investment to carry out the said work in public interest.

He proposed that the matter be taken up by the IRC and an independent team of experts be appointed to suggest a future course of action. He said the mushroom growth of human settlements burgeoning human population warranted a holistic approach.

The DC said that “oddly enough, there is disproportionate thrust of irrigation authorities against housing schemes. In case of flooding every kind of settlement (villages/semi-urban) are at risk and are equally vulnerable. Not a single correspondence or issue has been flagged as far as expansion of numerous villages/goths is concerned by Irrigation authorities,” read the letter.

While calling for a blanket ban on approval of schemes in flood zone, he said the irrigation authorities must clearly mention survey numbers along with maps indicating flood zone and such exercise must be carried out keeping in view the historical data and complete rationale.

Coming hard on irrigation officers, he said: “It has been noted with grave concern [that] irrigation officers consider themselves absolved of all statutory and legal responsibilities and duties by merely floating badly drafted letters either to commissioner or deputy commissioner”.

He said immediate and prompt legal action must be initiated by irrigation authorities against all sorts of illegal construction activity in flood zone as far as unapproved schemes are concerned.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2022