RAWALPINDI:
Before the monsoon season, cleaning and desilting of Nullah Leh and 15 drainage canals of the city will be completed at a cost of Rs 80 million. The operation is scheduled for May 1 and will end on June 15.
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has started the procurement process to clean Nullah Leh from IJP Road to Moti Mahal Chowk at an estimated cost of Rs 50 million.
Meanwhile, tenders have been invited for the cleaning of 15 urban drainage canals flowing into Nullah Leh from inside the city, with an estimated expenditure of Rs 30 crore.
Officials said failure to clean Nullah Leh and the drainage network before the monsoon season often leads to flooding in low-lying areas of the city and the cantonment.
The desilting work involves increasing the depth of the nullah and removing obstructions to ensure smooth flow of rainwater into the Soan River, preventing overflow during heavy rains.
Similarly, uncleaned sewage channels often cause water to spill into surrounding low-lying localities, leading to urban flooding.
WASA Director General Azizullah Khan said that like previous years, a comprehensive plan has been prepared to complete the cleaning of Nullah Leh and the 15 drainage canals before the onset of monsoon. Heavy machinery will be deployed for the operation.
He further said that strict restrictions have been imposed on dumping of construction material and solid waste in Nullah Leh and drainage canals and warned that legal action will be taken against violators.
The WASA director general added that large-scale emergency preparedness exercises will also be carried out ahead of the monsoon season.
All machinery will be kept operational, field staff will be mobilized, a control room will be set up and flood relief camps will be set up as part of the agency’s preparedness measures.
