HYDERABAD: A division bench of Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, comprising Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito on Tuesday reprimanded Dadu Deputy Commissioner Murtaza Ali Shah for his cavalier attitude during court proceedings.

The bench was seized with a contempt plea against him for not turning up despite being summoned on the date of hearing of a petition on de-watering of Dadu district areas.

Altaf Awan produced some photos of Khairpur Nathan Shah showing the state of stagnant water to which the DC interrupted and retorted: “I can provide pictorial evidence about my efforts that have been appreciated by the prime minister and army chief”. He went on to say that a tent city had been established and that he was overseeing everything though he was not a technical person. He claimed that 60pc of KN Shah area had been cleared of floodwaters, adding that water level had now come down to only one to 1.5ft from as high as 10ft; now the remaining water would be drained out.

Justice Kalhoro said the court wanted to know that when KN Shah would be cleared of water.

Mending of all cuts on Rice Canal within three days, early dewatering of KN Shah ordered

As the DC spoke in a loud voice with a sarcastic smile and threw his hand into air in disgust, Justice Kalhoro admonished him and warned: “You must behave … you are in high court … we can order your arrest here”. The judge reminded him that he (the DC) was a public servant.

DC Murtaza Ali Shah tendered his unconditional apology for his behaviour.

Explaining the situation, the DC said that the Main Nara Valley Drain (MNVD) had been breached to clear KN Shah of floodwaters under a plan.

The DC said Johi, Dadu and KN Shah were saved due to administrative efforts to which Justice Kalhoro said “Johi was saved by its people, including women.

Justice Sahito said television channels were beaming with footages of survivors’ cries as they were facing miseries. “And you are telling us all is well!” he lamented, and asked why were gates of Manchhar Lake not opened to offload the lake and create space for deluge from Balochistan.

Wapda’s superintending engineer Aziz Jamali sought permission to speak and explained that river flows were higher at that time, therefore, Manchhar’s water was not released. He said over 500,000 cusecs of water came from Balochistan and still water flows of 4ft to 5ft were entering the system.

Justice Kalhoro said Wapda and Sindh government should have remained prepared for disaster mitigation. “You are experts and meteorological office had a forecast of rains due to climate change phenomenon,” he said. The judge noted that the DC had told the prime minister [during his recent visit to the district] that everything was fine.

Justice Kalhoro observed that two months had passed but things had not changed. “These are challenging times and you can’t afford failure,” he said.

Justice Sahito observed that Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) was not de-silted although billions were spent for the purpose. “If you guys sit in camps like these survivors, you will feel the heat. Can’t you behave like a responsible man?” he remarked.

Justice Kalhoro asked the DC to tell court as to how much more time was needed for improving the situation because people could not wait. “They have lost properties. Man has grown socially and he or she is not living in 500 years old period. They have their needs,” he said.

Altaf Awan informed the bench that cuts in Rice Canal were not yet closed and the canal was now getting discharges, which were flowing towards KN Shah as well.

The court directed the irrigation secretary to plug these cuts within three days failing which the chief secretary would be summoned to court.

When the DC said he had written to the secretary for closure of the cuts but without any response, the court deplored the fact that there was no coordination between government and district administration.

The matter was fixed for October 11.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2022