With choked storm drains, Rawalpindi residents apprehensive of flooding

Officials assure storm drains would be cleared in time for the rainy season

RAWALPINDI: With the garrison city receiving the first set of pre-monsoon rains and of flooding in low-lying areas, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has yet to completely clean drains and sewers within its limits.

With more rain forecast, choked drains could lead to serious flooding in thickly populated areas.

There are as many as 12 storm drains of different sizes in different localities of the cantonment board. But most are choked with solid waste and building material.



A visit to drains at Jhawra, Kamalabad, Adra, Tench Bhatta, and Peoples Colony showed that drains passing through thickly populated areas and are choked.

At many places, the presence of debris and solid waste including plastic bags, food waste, construction material has narrowed the width of the drains. At others, encroachment and construction have narrowed their width.

During normal days, choked drains do not pose a threat to the localities they pass through. But during the rainy season, as was witnessed last week, choked drains could lead to flooding streets and neighbourhoods.

“Akhri stop Tench Bhatta Nullah is always clogged. A small bridge on Kiani Road also causes a blockade as the waste material gets stuck under the bridge. Repeated requests for cleaning out the drain have fallen on deaf areas,” said Faisal Khan who lives in a nearby neighbourhood.

He added that owing to the blockage, raw sewage and the stinking standing water floods streets and houses in low-lying areas during monsoon. Noting that his neighbourhood was thickly populated, Khan said that the water damages their houses and household items.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the RCB told The Express Tribune that the board had approved Rs5 .57 million for cleaning out and dredging 12 storm drains before the monsoons begin.

The board official noted that the drains including Akhri Stop Tench Bhatta, Adra Nullah, Jaba Pulli in Westridge, drains at Kalma Chowk, the Habib Colony drain in Gawalmandi, the drain at Shah Piyara in Allahabad, drain in Friends Colony, drain in Shalley Valley, drain on Dhamial Road, drain at Mughalabad, and the drain at Mohallah Hajian had been earmarked for cleaning.

The official further said that RCB’s field staff had identified the points and crossings along the drains where flooding could occur owing to blockades and would focus their efforts on these points. He, however, did not outline a timeline for when the drains would be cleaned.



On the other hand, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Talat Mahmood Gondal directed the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to complete dredging and excavation of the massive storm drain Nullah Leh as soon as possible.

In a statement, the DC warned of stern legal action against those found dumping garbage and building material in the drain.

He also directed the district administration to repair the pre-flood warning alarm system along Nullah Leh.

Gondal further directed the district administration to set up relief camps in the city and the rural areas to tackle the flood-like situation during monsoon.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2017.