The Rawal Town Administration (RTA) has divided the city into four sectors and operational activities have been started, according to official sources.
The administration has issued notices to residents of more than 200 buildings to vacate them.
However, the plan failed during the first pre-monsoon rain. Poor drainage system in the city resulted in the streets being flooded by two to three feet of water. Rainwater entered houses and shops in different parts of the city.
Rawal Town Administrator Saif Anwar directed the staff to demolish all cottages constructed on both sides of Nullah Lai. A flood control room has also been established at the central office of Rawal Town to monitor the expected flood and receive complaints.
Despite the arrival of monsoon season, Cantonment Board Rawalpindi and Chaklala have not started the cleaning campaign in their respective areas, official sources said.
They told to The Express Tribune that 10 flood relief camps have been set up in different areas of the city including Satellite town, Ratta Amral and Waris Khan.
These relief camps have been established in three colleges and seven high schools, and each relief camp will be equipped with first aid boxes, two beds and edibles, to prepare for possible floods in the region.
Health department staffers, Wapda, Civil Defense Authority volunteers and police officials have been put on high alert. Rescue 1122 teams will also be available at the flood relief camps in order to facilitate flood victims, according to Saif.
He added that encroachments have been removed form the drain at Katarian so the water can flow smoothly and losses can be minimised.
Some residents however remain sceptical of the measures taken by the RTA, saying that such plans seldom work out as promised.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2011.
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