Ministry Of Works Plans For El-Nino Rains Effects

By Edris Kisambira PLANS to counter the severe implications of the El-Nino rains expected to start in September or October are in high gear. Martin Owour, the assistant commissioner for disaster preparedness, told The New Vision in an interview last week, that sectoral working groups which are preparing a cabinet working paper are already in place.“Sectoral working groups are in advanced stages of finalising a cabinet working paper. It is this paper that suggests how different sectors which maybe affected are to be funded,” Owour said.He said when funds are provided, all affected ministries would be in position to set up task forces that would be responsible for handling eventualities like cholera, landslides and floods, among others. Owour said the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications was assessing the viability of the roads to come up with a report on how the destruction will be checked.The works minister, Mr. John Nasasira (pictured left) recently toured bridges in Sironko and Mbale districts.The ministries likely to be affected include; agriculture, health, works, transport and communication, finance, information, natural resources and that of education.The rains are expected to end late December or early January 2003, according to a preliminary seasonal weather forecast meteorology report released this month for July to December. Ends