Region divides over Eid celebrations, Shia community announces Eid on Friday;

Security beefed up in Gilgit , Skardu city; Heartiest wishes on the occasion of Eid to readers from Readers' Time
GILGIT, BALTISTAN, September 10: Like the rest of the country, Gilgit-Baltistan region too experiencing division on the question of Eid. According to available information, Agh Rahat-ul-Husseini, Imam-e-Juma, Shia Muslims declared on Thursday night lately that after acquiring numerous moon sighting evidences, after a detailed meeting, Eid would be observed on Friday,September 10, 2010. Similarly, religious authorities in Baltistan too announced Eid as par in Gilgit and outskirts.
Followers of the faith offered Eid prayers amidst tight security arrangements as law enforcement agencies took control of prayer halls and Eidgahs from early morning in Gilgit, Skardu and Ghanche and allowed participants only after passing through explusive detecting devices installed at different entry points. On the other hand, other reliegious authorities of Islam like Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamat, Tanzeem-E-ahle Sunnat and rest of communities have announced the Eid would be celebrated on Saturday, Septeber 11, 2010. The whole Nagar too celebrated Eid on Friday while most of the region in Hunza which comprises Ismaili community in majority observed Eid on Saturday because uncertainty and late announcement regarding sighting of the moon left people in bewilderment.

The whole country has also divided into two halves on the question of Eid-ul-Fitr consequently, Eid was observed on 10 th September, 2010. While a major portion of ountry's population is observing Eid celebrations today on Saturday 11 September, 2010. Muslims observe this mega event at the end of thirty day's fasting, an important factor of Islamic faith right from its rise.

We, the team of Readers time like to extend our heartiest wishes to all our valuable readers and saying you all " Happy Eid day" amidst fear, uncertainty and apprehensions due to constantly deteriorating law and order situation in almost every province of the country. We have not forgotten those all irrespective of their faith, as the Eid actually means to celebrate and forget griefs pray for those in troubles in the wake of floods and land sidings " May lord bring every human being out of poverty, oppression and misery.

[Featured Report] Devastation and responses to havoc inflicted by floods

RDs Time Flood special
By: Shamsuddin Muhammad

HUNZA, August: Torrential rains followed by flesh floods wreck havoc and inflicted property loss in different localities in Hunza subdivision. Nevertheless, except Guro, Joghlot in Nagar sub-division remained safe from any destruction in the wake of flooding during moon soon cycle that hit the whole country simultaneously. The floods not only cut off supply line from Gilgit and down cities but also reduced inter vicinity movement of public. Elders, employees, business men, students all affected by the continuous as scarcity of petroleum products coupled with ruined roads made hampered transportation. According to the details retained recently, floods have destroyed residential houses as well as cattle huts in Khanaabad and Hussainabad in Lower, orchards around Hyderabad nallahs, Giram area in Altit in Central and Khyber, Qalamdarchi and Chiperson in Upper HUNZA.
Local volunteers continued to facilitate public through self based efforts to get them out of troubles and help in moment by constructing makeshift bridges for temporary use.
Fortunately, devastation remained comparatively low as the locals on self help basis made disaster prevention measures. Yet, the situation in some of the areas of Ghizer and Baltistan went from bad to worse as regional disaster management authority despite being in its mandate could hardly response to such disaster.
The situation in down cities of Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh remained disappointing. That scenario posed country to a new kind of crisis for politically fragile democratic government with having little expreriance to deal with such natural disaster in its 62 years history invited army to help manage the situation. Following pictures portrays the situation prevailed during recent flooding with heavy rain pour.

HUNZA: [Left] Students use a small wooden block to cross the flooding water at Hyderabad huge moment of masses Nallah (Locally called Herr). [ Right] A single wooden block only sustaining the load of mass moment across

Hunza: [Left] Flood wrecked havoc in various areas and inundated roads. [Right] A school going student struggles to come out of debris of flood during 3 -week heavy monsoon rains. RDs Time Photo

HUNZA: (Left) Local volunteers trying to clear the flooded only link road used albeit to KKH connecting Aliabad, Karimabad, Altit and Ganish; (Middle) Vehicls stuck into mud; (Right) Locals daring to cross flood water at Hyderabad Nallah (Har). RDsT Photo

[Inner-view] An interview with Chairman NDMA Gen.(r) Nadeem Ahmed

Interviewed by: Shamsuddin Muhammad
(Moderator VoH, RDs Time, SRTimes, GBE, Alshams)

Image source:www.spapev.org

Lt.General (ret.) Nadeem Ahmed has recently appointed as Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in the end of second week of June, 2010 following the agitation against former chairman Gen (r) Farooq for negligence over the lake situation. General (r) Nadeem Ahmed has an exhaustive experience of the emergency mandatory response operations during his career in armed forces and aftermath.He was appointed as Deputy Chairman, Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) in 2006, where he undertook the complete spectrum of disaster management. We have managed to get his opinion and steps being taken in his own capacity to cope the challenge rose out of delay in release of an adequate quantity of water from the barrier to reduce accumulation of waer in the barrier at Attaabad. Voice of Hunza has managed to reach chairman NDMA to know about the strategies in wake of blockade during his recent visit to area on June 13. Yet due to constant trouble in the internet service and frequent power failure made it difficult to upload on time . As a response to various emails, the description of this brief discussion is being re-disseminated for readers.

Shams NDMA and NHA made its efforts to discharge water via a spill way with a view to help reduce level of water that submerged upstream areas. Yet the strategy seems to get a partial success for even in current scenario inflow exceeds outflow. What is your plan to tackle the new challenge?
Gen. Nadeem Ahmed: Well, after joining, I have close in touch with the operations for the release of water from the lake. As for as the low quantity of the water was concerned, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National High Way Authority (NHA) had the only option to paw a way to give a passage that was expected to get widen with erosion of water during spill over. The sole blame for delay to develop a breach over NDMA, FWO or NHA unjustified.

Shams There are severe reservations over the role of National Disaster Management Authority especially over Gen.(r) Farooq Ahmed former Chairman, NDMA who came on nuts in public circles for misleading national government and trumpeting of every thing OK. What would be your approach to enhance trust over this organization?
Gen. Nadeem Ahmed: Well, as for as allegations are concerned, those are rather of political nature. NDMA under the former chairman has done according to the resources available from the fund allocated for such disasters. And chairman alone can not be blame for this. You had your regional disaster management authority which has also a due share in such a case. If , poeple think that the former chairman has done any wrong, they can take up issue before national government. But it was illogical to blame someone whole and sole to be responsible for any mishandling.

Shams There are reports that experts are further planning to undertake controlled explosions using dynamite. In case of explosion how much water is expected to discharge to the optimum?
Gen. Nadeem Ahmed: Referring to a scatch he drew on a blank paper, there are two boulders on the way of flow that was creating hindrance in spill over. Another elbow has gradually reduced to grounds due to fast erosion. Nevertheless , there is a also a heavy boulder in the end of Spill way. We are planning to operate blasting to dismantle resistance in proper outflow.

Shams: Due to bad climatic conditions and technical faults, helicopter service mostly get disrupted. Do you have thought of an alternative to reduce pressure of people stranded on both sides?
Gen. Nadeem Ahmed: See what happens in coming few days. We had a meeting with line departs to construct a jeepable road to the shores of the Western end with proper parking for vehicle. Boat service to be resumer soon to help administration to shift to and from Upstream and down stream areas.

Shams : What about the behavior, level of coordination between military establishment and that of civil administration in the relief operation? Generally it was being observed that military personnel deputed at helipads little bother about the instructions given by civil bureaucracy, and how do you manage to supervise situation at the lake?
Gen. Nadeem Ahmed: Well, every institution is working into its delegated authority under the country’s constitution. If there exists lack of coordination, might be just because of lack of understanding on both sides and utilization of heterogeneous approaches while tackling any issue. Yet, I hope to build better understanding and there is no hindrance in relief work. I personally used to visit every next day to the blockade site. Our personnel were kept high alert to tackle any sort of problems.

Shams: Who has proposed to use explosive to paw further path along spill way, what do you want to do in exception?
Gen Nadeem Ahmed: The idea firstly came to my mind. We would have to use explosions to reduce further rise in water.

Shams: As the widening of spill way is a critical issue for it can be politicized by some elements i.e some in the downstream may agitate to avoid such a move on pretext of possibility of flesh flooding . In such a case what would be your stance to both the government and expected Attaabad disaster hit people on both sides of the blockade?
Gen Nadeem Ahmed: I do not think that controlled explosions in heavy boulders would inflict such a huge destruction in down stream areas. Disaster hit population of Upstream want a way to discharge more water from the lake. In case of any resistance to widen the spill way would not only affect our efforts but also serve to bring trust deficit between the population on both sides. In case of any concern by such elements would be tackled accordingly.

Shams: As a response to lack of will of government, locals have reached blockade site and after negotiations given a week deadline for widening of spill way. What would be your new strategy if NDMA fails to meet deadline?
Gen. Nadeem: I think haphazard blasting is a hazardous approach so we are planning for a controlled blasting at potential points keeping in view the possible damage that may inflict on down stream areas later.

Shams Public complaint against mal attitude of personnel during travel and even ladies are not respected. What can be done to respect all aspects?
General Nadeem: Lo! airlift was not the permanent solution rather people would have to cooperate what the officials say to them. At least they are here to serve public. There is no animosity against someone and if some one has a genuine complaint, he can contact me any time. Legal action to be taken against him.

Shams Population of Hunza, Nagar, Gilgit and Diamer have been evacuated to temporary relief camps. Most of them rely on agriculture as the ultimate source of living. What have you planned to solve it?
General Nadeem: We are consulting local authorities as well as experts to allow population of down stream to work in their respective fields only during the day and subjected to return to the camps due to uncertainty of condition.

Shams: NDMA seems in limbo for many last week emphasizing on still wait strategy,avoid any jerk reaction to low outflow, what would it do if the situation pervails for next many months?
Gen. Nadeem: Well, keeping in view threat posed in case of release of huge water, in-spite of having option for controlled explosions we would like to hear experts' opinion so that better solution would be possible.

Shams Thanks for sparing some time out of your busy schedule and sharing views
Gen. Nadeem :Your are always welcome please.