Government should prepare for El Nino

According to the meteorological department forecasts, it’s just a matter of days before El Nino rains ravage.

The expected rains are sure to be a blessing to many farmers. However, the infrastructure will be the most adversely affected.

This has happened before during the first El Nino rains of 1997/98 and no doubt the same or worse will happen again.

Although the Government has been on the right track in trying to maintain the infrastructure in relatively good condition, the rains will certainly deal a blow to the multi-billion shilling road projects under way across the country.

The Government needs to come up with sustainable long-term mechanisms to deal with this event and others of similar or larger magnitude.

This is also the right time to deal with the persistent water and electricity problems that have long bedeviled us.

With a little planning, the vicious cycle of flooding in Budalang’i, Nyando and Kano plains could be sorted out.

{James Kanyi, Juba}