Govt slashes Nullah Leh desilting budget by Rs5m

WASA facing cash crunch as employees get salaries after 17-day delay

RAWALPINDI: With the twin cities already struggling with a flood-like situation during the recent spell of rains, the provincial government has taken the surprising decision of slashing funds for de-silting the massive storm drain in Rawalpindi, the Nullah Leh, by Rs5 million. The Punjab government has asked the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to complete the task in a meagre Rs10 million.

Sources say that Wasa had demanded Rs15 million from the provincial government to complete the annual de-silting and cleaning exercise. However, the cash-strapped provincial finance department only approved Rs10 million for the purpose.

Further, sources said that Wasa has identified the points along Nullah Leh which require the most cleaning effort. Wasa had assured that the task will be completed before the monsoon season.

But owing to a shortage of funds, the waste management company has yet to begin work on cleaning 11 drains from which sewage is dumped into Nullah Leh.

Further, the department is facing severe financial constraints. It issued salaries of employees after a delay of 17 days, but not before the employees had started protesting.

Moreover, there is also a risk that the areas where the drains run through may flood during the upcoming monsoon season.

Water shortage

Residents of Union Council (UC)- 42 Dhoke Elahi Bukush and its adjoining areas have been protesting against the shortage of water for days now.

They accuse Wasa of failing to make suitable alternative arrangements to ensure uninterrupted supply of water to the area.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2019.