RAWALPINDI, June 3: Three flood forecasting and warning posts at Leh Nullah have gone out of order just after four years of their installation due to improper maintenance.

Leh Nullah Flood Forecasting and Warning System was installed with the assistance of Japan government in 2006-2007.

After the installation of ten warning posts at the nullah, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) handed over the posts and equipment to the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) in 2008.

The equipment at the centres worth Rs360 million includes two rainfall gauging stations, two water level gauging station, a monitoring station at Rawal Town Municipal Administration (RTMA) offices and 10 warning posts.

Rescue 1122 was responsible for the maintenance of the 10 warning posts. The CDGR had allocated Rs3 million for the repair and maintenance of these warning posts and system but failed to release the fund.

However, the CDGR released the amount 30 days before the start of the monsoon and asked the Civil Defence Department to check and repair the faults of the warning posts.

The Civil Defence Department conducted a survey which pointed out that three warning posts had not been working and recommended that the CDGR should install barbered wire around the 10 warning posts and repair three of them.

“We have received the funds and checked all the equipment and warning posts whether they are in working condition or not and found three of the warning posts out of order,” said Tayyamam Raza, District Officer Civil Defence, while talking to Dawn.

He said that the faulty warning posts were at Ziaul Haq Colony, Dhoke Naju and Gowalmandi. He said that the department would remove the faults within two weeks and all the warning posts would be in working condition before the start of monsoon in July.

He said that the department would also install barbed wire to stop the intruders as it was not possible to deploy officials to guard these warning posts and equipment.

He said that the Civil Defence Department had already started a survey of low-lying areas to point out vulnerable places and to prepare comprehensive plan to provide better rescue services in case of flood.

He said that the DCO had asked the Rescue 1122 to prepare the flood plan this year and they got the copies of previous years’ flood plan prepared by the Civil Defence Department.

The Leh Nullah receives a heavy torrent of water as average rainfall in the twin cities is around 500mm during the monsoon every year. On July 23, 2001, an unprecedented rainfall occurred in Islamabad and Rawalpindi resulting in death of 74 people and partial or complete damage to about 3,000 houses.