Johi, a small town in Dadu district with a population of nearly 300,000, drew global attention during the floods in 2010 for the untiring effort of its people to protect the city from floodwater by constructing a flood protection ring embankment, locally known as ‘ring bund’, without the support of any machinery.
It was the month of September in 2010 when the local authorities had asked people to evacuate the city and seek protection at safer places, but the people decided to stay back and build the protection embankment around the city. People — men and women, young and old — took active part in building the protection ring which ran almost 8km around the city. Flour bags were filled with mud and placed in a particular sequence, and plastic sheets, bamboos and transitional shelter material were used. And all this was done without any heavy machinery.
Even when the level of floodwater increased and things got worse with heavy rains and furious winds, the people kept bolstering the ring bund for more than three weeks. That was some miracle, but the locals did make it happen.
This year, it was the same month and the people of Johi faced pretty much the same circumstances. The administration again asked people to evacuate the city, and the people once again opted to stay back and save the city.
The flood of 2010 was a lot more challenging than what the locals faced this year. Also, this time the local administration supported the people and provided heavy machinery in the crucial phase.
However, it is a pity that while the city has been saved, life in Johi is in a mess as the area has remained disconnected from the other cities due to floodwater which is still standing around the city.
The drinking water is in short supply, diseases of all kinds are rampant, and the prices of essential items have gone through the roof.
Simply put, the government has failed to provide relief to the people of Johi.
ALI GUL LEGHARI
JOHI
