RAWALPINDI: To complete the desilting of Leh Nullah and 11 big drains before June 15, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has finalised several firms, which will likely start their work next week.

Officials said 50 firms submitted their bids. Out of which, one firm was selected for the Leh cleaning, while four firms were selected for the cleaning of 11 other drains. “Wasa will (start) desilting the Leh Nullah and 11 big drains in the garrison city before monsoon season, and the first round will be completed by June 15 before pre-monsoon rains in the garrison city,” said Managing Director Saleem Ashraf while talking to Dawn. According to the Wasa chief, the work orders for these firms would be issued in a day or two.

He said Wasa wanted to clear the obstacles in the smooth flow of water in Leh Nullah before pre-monsoon rains and then the work would continue in the second phase. He said there were clear directions from the government to make arrangements to avoid a flood-like situation in the city during the monsoon season.

He said Wasa would spend Rs150 million, including Rs80 million for the cleanliness of Leh Nullah and Rs70 million for 11 big nullahs of the garrison city. “Rain emergency has been enforced up till September 15. Field offices (have been) established in Moti Mahal, Liaquat Bagh, Bagh Sardaran, Commercial Market Satellite Town and Khyaban-i-Sir Syed, where Wasa staff have been deployed to drain out water in case of heavy rains, even during pre-monsoon,” he said. The official said heavy machinery was also in working condition and deployed at these flood response units.

He said the district administration had chalked out a plan to avoid a flood-like situation in the monsoon and detected 19 vulnerable points along the Leh Nullah and Soan River. These vulnerable points are Kattarian, Bangash Colony, Ziaul Haq Colony, Boring Road, Dhoke Naju, Dhoke Dalal, Pirwadhai, Dhoke Hassu, Hazara Colony, Dhoke Ratta, Gawalmandi, Dhoke Ellahi Bux, Javed Colony, Nadeem Colony, Bakramandi, Tench Bhatta, Range Road, and Sharoon Colony along the Soan River.

On the other hand, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema assigned duties in this regard. A senior official told Dawn that the assistant commissioners, the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, and the Rawalpindi Development Authority had been directed to clear Leh Nullah’s banks from permanent and temporary encroachments.

He said that Leh Nullah flowing through the cantonment areas would be the responsibility of the respective boards, and the coordination would be improved with the Cantt civic bodies to complete the work before the monsoon season.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2025