RAWALPINDI: An open rainwater drain situated parallel to the runway at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport has become a cause of concerns for the airport management as civic agencies passed the buck to each other for its maintenance.

Security officials at the airport expressed the fear that the two-kilometre-long open drain can be used by terror elements for any untoward incident.

Sources in the airport said the two civic departments of the district government were responsible for the culverts on the drain.

They said the drain remained open and during the rainy seasons its water might flood the airport creating safety issues for the airport infrastructure as well as the aircraft.

In this regard, the airport management held a meeting with the commissioner Rawalpindi on Wednesday and apprised him of their serious concerns regarding the lack of interest by the civic authorities in repairing the rainwater drain.

In September, the airport management had sought the attention of the chief security officer Airport Security Force (ASF), base commander Nur Khan Airbase Chaklala and the district management of Rawalpindi towards the matter. The RDA was also requested to repair the drain.

However, the RDA replied that the construction of the drain was not its responsibility.

It said the Potohar Town Administration was responsible for the operation and the maintenance of the drain. Later, experts from the RDA and the TMA visited the site but no action was taken so far.

They said due to the lack of maintenance, heavy bushes grew on the drain blocking it most of the time and creating security issues for the airport and the Nur Khan Airbase.

The airport management in a fresh letter to the authorities concerned said the nullah can collapse in the next monsoon season and become a source of safety and security threat to the airport. The management requested the authorities concerned to construct the drain.

It may be noted that under the prevailing security situation, all airports in the country have enhanced their security measures.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2015

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