Judicial commission report on breach of embankment be made public: SC

Supreme Court (SC) has directed that judicial commission report on breaching Band be made public.A 3-member bench of SC presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry took up the case for hearing Monday.A 4-member judicial commission constituted under the directives of SC presented its detailed report in respect of disastrous flood. It was laid down in the report that no steps were taken at government level to avert loss. All the departments indulged in negligence of duty. Even Met office did not provide information about flood in advance. The worst loss was caused in the area of Kachcha due to encroachments.The court was told that investigation be made from chief engineer Guddu Barrage, chief secretary irrigation Sindh and those found responsible for devastation caused by flood in Balochistan under judicial supervision. Had Munda dam been built that destruction would have not occurred in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.Report disclosed no evidence had been found for breaching Toori embankment and it broke up due to heavy flow of water. Thousands acres land was under the occupation of influential persons in the area of Kachcha. Therefore the common man and their lands were affected adversely. At least 1600 people lost their lives and economy had to suffer loss to the tune of Rs 855 billion.About natural calamities it was told that Disaster Management Authority (DMA) failed badly in discharging its obligations.It was recommended in the report that encroachments be removed alongside the river banks then destruction from flood could be contained.The recommendations on Manda dam be viewed seriously, court directed. Court’s orders on the report would be issued today, court said.Hearing of the case has been adjourned till tomorrow. – Nation