RAWALPINDI:
Ahead of the monsoon season, cleaning and desilting of Nullah Leh and 15 urban drainage canals will be completed at a cost of Rs80 million. The operation is scheduled to begin on May 1 and will be completed by June 15.
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has initiated the contract process for desilting Nullah Leh from IJP Road to Moti Mahal Chowk at an estimated cost of Rs50 million.
Meanwhile, tenders have been floated for the cleaning of 15 urban drainage canals discharging into Nullah Leh from within the city at an estimated cost of Rs30 million.
Officials noted that failure to clean Nullah Leh and the drainage network ahead of the monsoon season typically results in flooding of low-lying areas throughout the city and cantonment.
Desilting work involves increasing the depth of the nullah and removing obstructions to ensure a smooth flow of rainwater into the river Soan, preventing overflow during heavy rainfall.
Similarly, untreated sewers often cause water to flow into surrounding low-lying localities, leading to urban flooding.
WASA Managing Director Azizullah Khan said that like in previous years, a comprehensive plan has been prepared to complete the cleaning of Nullah Leh and all 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 materials and solid waste in Nullah Leh and the drainage canals, warning that legal action will be taken against violators.
The WASA MD added that full-scale preparedness drills will also be conducted before the monsoon season.
All machinery will be kept operational, field personnel mobilized, a control room established and flood camps set up as part of the agency’s preparedness measures.
