Flood control measures

The recent flash floods have played havoc with our lives, agriculture, livestock and infrastructure right from Gilgit-Baltistan to Sindh. We have been experiencing such devastating floods on a yearly basis – especially since 2010. After every flooding, our media gears into flood control discussions in which experts emphasise constructing dams as the best remedy to control floods.
We need to construct undisputed mega storage dams like Diamer-Bhasha, Shyok and Skardu on the Indus River; small/medium dams like Munda on River Swat, Kurram Tangi on Kurram, Chiniot on Chenab, etc; off-channel storage like Akori, Rohtas dams, etc; flood release/escape channels to desert areas that would reduce peak flood discharges. We also need to remodel and review the design discharge capacity of barrages. We need to periodically maintain flood embankments. Flood dispersal structures for hill torrents flood mitigation are needed. We also need to improve and extend the flood forecasting system and install additional weather radars as well as conduct flood plain mapping/zoning along the Indus River and its tributaries for restricting settlements in high-risk areas.
Khan Faraz
Peshawar