The Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) is working on an ambitious project of Integrated Forecasting System for Jhelum and Tawi rivers to build Disaster Risk Resilience besides working on creating a database of river morphology of the two rivers.
The project is part of the World Bank aided $250 millionJhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) launched in Jammu & Kashmirafter the devastating floods of 2014.
In this regard, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ERA, Dr SyedAbidRasheed Shah today interacted with the Team Leaders of variousconsultancies across the globe engaged for execution of the World Bank FundedProject in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and reviewed the progressachieved so far through Video Conferencing.
The consultancies include Regional Maritime SecurityInc(RMSI) from India, EptisaServicios DeIngenieria S.L. from Spain and Aqualogus-Oiltech from Portugal.
During the interaction, Team Leader of RMSI apprised the CEOthat the main objective of the project-Multi-Hazard Risk Management is to buildDisaster Risk Resilience through carrying out in-depth analysis of hazard riskfrom principal hazards affecting the geographical area; Setting up Web-basedDisaster Risk Database (DRDB) to support development and mitigation planning;Setting up an Integrated Operational Forecasting System (IOFS) forhydro-meteorological hazards (particularly Flood and Drought) and providereal-time forecast and warning; Conduct training and capacity building toutilize the above platforms and models; and Maintenance and support for DRDBand IOFS for one year after the installation.
Expressing strong concern over the delay caused in thecompletion of the project, Dr. AbidRaheed instructed the RMSI to complete theIntegrated Operational Forecasting System (IOFS) at the earliest for which hefixed a deadline of June 2020. He saidnow the winters are over and the whole area is approaching the snow meltingsummers, the project should be completed by the time so that the administratorsand policy planners can plan their strategies much more efficiently.
The Team Leader of EptisaServicios De Ingenieria S.L. Pvt.Ltd., David Sargent engaged for the study of Jehlum River Morphology joined theinteraction from Australia and apprised the CEO about the Inception report anddata collection report that has already been submitted. Currently, the TeamLeader informed, his Consultancy is working on the Hydrology and HydrodynamicsMorphology process. After the completion of Evaluation of Flood and RiskMitigation and Feasibility Study a Detailed Project Report will be prepared forFlood Mitigation, the Team Leader informed the CEO.
Dr. Abid asked the Team Leader of Eptisa Pvt. Ltd. to submitan Interim Project Report by May 2020 so that it is subjected to furtherevaluation.Deputy Team Leader of Aqualogus-OiltechEngg (JV)Pvt. Ltd. Serigio Costa and Contract Manager Miguel Silva engaged for RiverMorphology studies for Tawi river Basin joined the interaction from Portugal.