SUKKUR, May 30: Action will be taken against those found cutting or tampering with dykes to save their agricultural lands during rains, said Sukkur division commissioner Dr Niaz Ali Abbasi while presiding over a meeting in his office on Thursday.

The meeting, attended by high-ranking officers of relevant departments and law-enforcement officials, reviewed arrangements for coping with any eventuality, specially flooding during, upcoming monsoon.

He said that keeping in view the past experiences, the Divisional Disaster Contingency Plan 2013 had been prepared to take protective measures during monsoon.

The commissioner urged officials of the taluka municipal administration and public health department to ensure purchase of two-by-two draining pumps before monsoon.

He instructed irrigation officials to strengthen canal and river embankments by pitching stones. He directed deputy commissioners and committee members to visit canal and river embankments in their areas and make protective arrangements on priority basis.

He predicted that heavy losses would have to be faced after monsoon and said that the drainage system should be made to work effectively to minimise losses.

He said that the support of non-governmental organisations can be asked by committees of relief, livestock and food supply, adding that the departments should share liaise with one another. He advised welfare organisations and multinational companies to buy at least five boats so that they could be used for relief measures if needed.

Commissioner Abbasi said that the committees of relief, food supply and livestock would include deputy commissioners, SSPs, Ranger’s, armed forces, district, information, irrigation and education officials, besides civil society representatives.

He asked Rangers and police officials to patrol areas along with rescue teams, adding that control rooms would be set up in deputy commissioners’ and his office. The commissioner added that he would also meet UN representatives in this regard.

LARKANA: Reviewing precautionary measures for monsoon at a meeting on Thursday, Larkana Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Phull asked deputy commissioners to personally monitor all protective dykes in their districts.

The deputy commissioners were also asked to jointly visit vulnerable spots in dykes in their districts.

He asked the chief irrigation engineer for pinpointing the sensitive spots and ensure availability of material for de-silting at these points.

He directed bserved that irrigation department complete ongoing development schemes, including work on strengthening dykes and rehabilitation of embankments, in the stipulated time.

He said that they should dismantle the illegal constructions made in the river bed.

The commissioner asked health officials to keep snake anti-venom handy during monsoon season and directed the municipal departments to keep their resources ready.

He instructed the agriculture department to keep bulldozers ready to deal with any emergency breaches or repair and asked district police commanders to ensure round-the-clock police patrolling.