RAWALPINDI: The district administration has asked assistant commissioners to inspect the banks of the Leh Nullah and prepare a report on garbage disposal and the cleaning of the nullah carried out by the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa).

The directive was issued at a meeting held to review arrangements to prevent a flood-like situation in Rawalpindi which was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Talat Mehmood Gondal.

The meeting was attended by MPA Raja Hanif, Director Emergency Abdur Rehman and other senior officials.

Mr Gondal said action would be taken against those dumping garbage and construction material waste along the Leh Nullah, which has been banned.

He said all the district administration departments will be on alert during the monsoon season to evacuate people in case of an emergency.

Meeting held to review arrangements to prevent flood-like situation in Rawalpindi

Every year during the monsoon, floods create problems in low-lying areas.

The meteorological department has issued a weather warning to the district administration about heavy monsoon rainfall in the coming days and has asked for preparations to be made in this regard.

Mr Gondal asked that flood relief centres be established in low-lying areas in Rawalpindi, which will be manned round the clock by staff deployed by the health and education authorities.

He also asked the concerned authorities to repair sirens to people can be alerted before a flood-like situation and move to safer places.

He said stocks of life saving drugs and vaccinations for snake and dog bites should also be arranged.

The meeting’s participants were informed that flood relief centres would be set up at the Government Islamia Boys High School Liaquat Bagh, Government Municipal Corporation Boys School Dhoke Khabba, Federal Government Boys High School Marir Hassan, Government Girls High School Babu Lal Hussain Road, Government Girls High School Bagh Sardaran and Government College for Women Dhoke Najju.

Officials from the army’s 111 Brigade also visited Leh Nullah to make arrangements to prevent flood-like situations.

In Rawalpindi, the 111 Brigade helps the local administration evacuate people from areas vulnerable to flooding while providing them with necessary medication.

Wasa finished the cleaning of Leh Nullah at a cost of $25 million, and removed obstacles from the nullah to ensure water flows smoothly. The agency also made arrangements to remove rainwater from low-lying areas using machinery.

On the other hand, the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has failed to identify dangerous building along Leh Nullah. Every year, the civic body begins work close to the monsoon season and warns people about the condition of their buildings.

The RMC has identified over 170 dangerous buildings in other parts of the city and started issuing notices and registering cases against owners who have failed to vacate or repair the buildings.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2017