LAHORE: Lahore Deputy Commissioner Sumair Ahmed Syed has directed the Irrigation Department to launch an operation against encroachment from the bed and from both embankments of Ravi River. Chairing a meeting of District Disaster Management and District Emergency Board at Nadir Hall on Saturday, the deputy commissioner said that the district administration and police would provide all sort of support in the operation. During the meeting, the deputy commissioner was told that the district administration along with allied departments had initiated arrangements to tackle floods. The meetings were attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Headquarter) Amir Shaffique, ADCG Rao Imtaiz, AC (Headquarter) Khawar Bashir and officers of Rescue 1122, Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Metropolitan Corporation, police and irrigation departments. In the meeting, Rescue 1122 Officer briefed the DC and other participants about the functionality of flood-related equipment on which DC Lahore directed rescue officials to keep their equipments functional and up to the mark along with arranging special mock exercises in the presence of other departments before monsoon. He said that the Irrigation Department must be more vigilant and proactive. Similarly, DC Lahore directed LWMC and WASA to de-silt small and big drains of the city before expected floods. He directed Education Department to identify high schools where flood victims could be housed in case of severe flood. Published in Daily Times, April 22nd 2018.