RAWALPINDI: The district administration chalked out plan to dredge Leh Nullah, and remove encroachments along drains to avoid flood in Leh Nullah and Soan River in monsoon.

A senior official of district administration told Dawn that the district administration has identified 19 vulnerable points along Leh Nullah and Soan River and it will start work from next month.

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, Sharoon Colony along Soan River.

He said that the duties in this regard have bee assigned to the civic bodies’ officials and the duty roasters issued to the officials to monitor the work. He said that Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC), Rescue 1122, Civil Defence and Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation will assist.

“Wasa will dredge Leh Nullah and RWMC and RMC will clean roadside drains and 11 big nullahs and all the work will be completed by May end.

“The district administration has already imposed a ban on dumping of solid waste and construction material along nullahs and drains,” he said.

For removal of encroachments, he said that Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and Rawalpindi Development Authority had been directed to complete the survey of their respective areas to clear the permanent encroachments before the summer season.

He said cleaning of Leh Nullah in cantonment boards of Rawalpindi and Chaklala would be their responsibility and the coordination in this regard would be improved with the cantonment boards so the work could be completed before monsoonseason.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held with Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema in the chair to review the advance measures and preparations taken by the district administration to deal with the flood situation before the upcoming monsoon.

The meeting was attended by officials of the departments concerned, while matters related to the flood plan, availability of staff, machinery and equipment, mutual coordination of teams, situation of sensitive and low-lying areas, and establishment of flood relief camps were discussed in detail.

During the meeting, the responsibilities of various institutions were reviewed and it was directed that all departments should be on alert at all times to deal with possible flood situations.

The deputy commissioner directed the officials concerned to keep all necessary machinery, rescue

equipment and manpower on alert so that immediate action can be taken in any emergency situation.

The meeting also emphasised on continuous monitoring of rivers, streams and other sensitive areas, public awareness and ensuring provision of basic facilities in flood relief camps.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters said that the district administration will utilize all available resources to protect the lives and property of the people and no negligence will be tolerated.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026