Upcoming monsoon rains : WASA asked to speed up Leh dredging

Committee formed to monitor dredging, asked to submit report in next three days .

RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Azmat Mahmood has formed a three-member committee to monitor dredging and cleaning activity of Nullah Leh to make sure that the stream does not overflow during the monsoon season this year.

The commissioner expressed grave concern over reports about lack of cleanliness of Leh and forecast of heavy rains during monsoon and asked the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to speed up cleanliness drive.

A senior official of the City District Government told The Express Tribune that the commissioner expressed his displeasure over the performance of the Wasa during a meeting on Monday.

He said that the commissioner formed the committee to monitor work of the agency and other agencies involved in cleaning the water channel of Leh and submit a report within next three days.

In the meeting, the Wasa Managing Director, Raja Shaukat Mahmood, briefed the commissioner and the Punjab Housing Minister, Malik Tanveer Aslam, about efforts of the agency to keep the stream clean.

The MD said that the Wasa lacked financial resources to carry out dredging activity in Leh at a large scale.

The commissioner said that the Punjab government would provide sufficient funds to the Wasa for cleaning Nullah Leh.

Rescue-1122 District Officer Dr Abdul Rehman told the meeting that his department was ready to meet emergency-like situation during the monsoon.

The rescue official however informed the meeting that his department required diving suits for going into deep water. He said that the Rescue-1122 required minimum five diving suits to go into deep water.

The rescue official also informed the meeting that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had restored earlier frequency for early flood warning system installed in Rawalpindi.

The provincial housing minister said Punjab government would provide all required funds to make arrangements for countering flood-like situation in Leh.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2016.