SIALKOT, May 30: As the rainy season is approaching, the seasonal nullahs — Aik, Dek, Bhed and Palkhu — have not yet been desilted and remodelled by the district government. The district government had planned desilting and remodelling of these nullahs at a cost of Rs260 million some two years ago when a flood wreaked havoc in the city and its outskirts.

Nullah Palkhu flows through northern parts of the city and Bhed covers southern areas. The flood in Aik and Bhed often ruins the city’s congested and posh Model Town, Islamia Park, Kotli Behram, Mubarakpura and industrial localities. Nullah Bhed was cleaned by the army in 2000. Since then, the discharge of effluents and other waste into these nullahs by almost all factories and private and government hospitals has blocked them at various spots.

As these nullahs were given under the control of the irrigation department, it started preparing a feasibility report for launching their remodelling around two years ago — after the August, 2003 floods.

Meanwhile, District Nazim Naeem Javaid told reporters that the district government had chalked out a plan to save the life and property of the people during flood.

He said the district had been divided into 16 sectors and 33 sub-sectors for the rainy season.

Besides, he said 32 special relief centres were also being established for the flood-affected people.

He said the district government had also established a disaster management body for carrying out relief work.