LAHORE, Feb 19: Punjab Housing and Public Health Engineering Minister Syed Raza Ali Gilani on Wednesday ordered punitive action against several Wasa officials for the dereliction of their duties in respect of drainage of rainwater.

District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood, however, lauded their ‘excellent performance’ on the same account on Wednesday. A spokesman for the City District Government said that the minister was not authorized to order punitive action against Wasa officials.

The minister ordered the immediate suspension of Gulberg SDO Muhammad Ismail, Misri Shah SDO Muhammad Siddiq and Farooq Ganj SDO Ahmed Hassan Bilal and issue of showcause notices to the executive engineer concerned after a three and half hour tour of Gulberg, Jail Road, Lytton Road, Garhi Shahu, railway station, Davis Road, Misri Shah, Chowk Nakhuda, Circular Road, Chowk Yateem Khana, Samanabad, Ichhra and Shadman on Tuesday. Wasa managing director Inam Qadir accompanied him during the tour.

The minister also directed the Wasa managing director to cancel the leave of all Wasa employees and arrange the desilting of all drains and sewers in the provincial metropolis during the next five days for ensuring better rainwater drainage.

Meanwhile, District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood inspected the Laxmi Chowk, Empress Road, Cooper Road, Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam, Nabha Road, Shah Jamal, Park Lane, Ik Moria and Do Moria Bridges, Omardin Road, Chowk Nakhuda, Sheranwala Gate, Bhati Gate, Aziz Road, Allama Iqbal Town Scheme Morr, Dharampura Bridge, Haq Nawaz Road, Shah Kamal, Toheed Park, Baghichi Nathianwali, Milad Street and Kalma Chowk along with the Wasa managing director on Wednesday and found rainwater completely drained.

He visited the Wasa head office on Jail Road again in the afternoon and was informed that rainwater accumulated in Firdaus Market and Liberty Market in Gulberg, Barkat Market in Garden Town, Centre Point on Gulberg Main Boulevard and Thornton Road had also been drained by 11am.

The Nazim lauded the performance of Wasa officials and directed desilting of the storm water channels and drains before the next rainy season.