Heritage Foundation’s Flood Emergency Response: Aqifer Trench Project
In the past few days, following the disasters due to the heavy rains in the Sindh region, Heritage Foundation Pakistan reached out to some of the worst hit villages in Makli and Mirpurkhas (Pono Village), elaborating effective and economical approaches through vernacular methodologies. Calamities like this one prove us once again that climate change is not science fiction but destroys real people’s lives in the snap of a finger. The strategy has been developed by Heritage Foundation CEO Ar. Lari who has brought together a compact team of collaborators willing to give their contribution. Rainwater drainage process coordinated by Miss Lari’s team of experts has started to get executed with the support of the villagers. A low-cost approach has been studied and analyzed starting from the aquifer trench, which will serve to collect the stagnant rainwater that is 8/9 inches deep and spread over at various locations in the distressed area. All actions will include maximum participation of affected households themselves, strengthening their capabilities and skills. Targeted training modules are in fact offered for implementing partners, volunteers, artisans and communities. The strategy also includes the transfer of prefabricated bamboo shelters that will be directly sent to the villages and composed on-site by the community.
Pono Village is located in the district of Mirpurkhas (Sindh) which in the past week has witnessed incredible damage from the heavy rains. A solution to drain the water out of the village has been studied and examined by the Heritage Foundation Pakistan.
The solution that’s been brought up is to create an aquifer trench (4’-0’’x4’-0’’) that will act as a natural drain for the rainwater.
As drawn on the map, in red is shown the path that must be followed in order to dig the aquifer trench. The latter will follow the left side of the main road surrounding the right side of the village.The Project will be later on be developed into a more structured one, that will include the creation of a forest along the main road and a boundary wall positioned right next the aquifer trench.