UPPER DIR :The GLOF-II project, United Nation Development Program has constructed 10 flood protection walls in different areas of the scenic Kumrat Valley of Dir-Upper.
Director General Soil and Water Conservation Muhammad Yaseen and Director Disaster Risk Management of PDMA Muhammad Ameen inaugurated the newly built flood protection walls in Kumrat valley. The officials of the GLOF-II project, Peshawar Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Soil Conservation department, were also present on the occasion.
The GLOF-II project is a joint initiative with the Ministry of Climate Change and supported by the Green Climate Fund.
“One of the flood protection walls protects the historic Thal Mosque,” Chairman community based disaster risk management committee Rahimullah Kohistani said. He said that the residents of the Thal bazaar area were worried about the historic mosque, located adjacent to the gushing water of the river.
He appreciated the GLOF-II project for constructing the flood protection wall which will protect building of the mosque from the overflowing the river.
Speaking on the occasion, DG Soil and Water Conservation Muhammad Yaseen said that the flood protection walls will also secure the river side population and agriculture land. He said that the protection walls have been constructed in the areas which were exposed to the floods.
It is worth to mention here that construction of such flood protection walls were in progress in different areas of Swat, Chitral-Upper and Chitral-lower aimed to protect the residential areas and agriculture land in the respective areas.
UNDP’s GLOF-II project operates in 16 valleys of Gilgit Baltistan and eight valleys in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It empowers communities to identify and manage risks associated with GLOFs and related impacts of climate change, strengthen public services to lower the risk of disasters related to GLOF, and improve community preparedness and disaster response. The project also supports development of sustainable options for livelihoods in project areas, with a particular focus on the participation of women in ensuring food security and livelihood.