Military asks city authorities to clear Nullah Leh

Meeting reviews cleaning of storm drain to prevent urban flood

RAWALPINDI:  

Pakistan Army has asked the district administration and the cantonment authorities to ensure timely cleaning of Nullah Leh.

During a meeting held on Thursday, Brigade Commander of the city took a strong exception of city administration’s lethargy in cleaning operation of 12 nullahs in the city ahead of monsoon season.

He was chairing a meeting of assistant commissioners (ACs) of Rawalpindi district and representatives from Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Civil Defence Department (CDD), District Council and Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) participated.

He asked representatives from RCB and CCB to expedite silt cleaning and anti-encroachment operation.

The brigade commander also asked city administration to conduct anti-encroachment operation on regular basis. Talking to representative of city administration, he said that no encroachments should be visible in surroundings of nullahs and directed them to monitor the drains during night as well so as prevent littering.

The CDD was informed that its employees would perform round the clock duties in flood relief camps in case of a flood. He told that the army would remain alert on a phone call for rescue operations in case of a flood.

In 2017, Nullah Leh had broken its banks and flooded many areas of Rawalpindi.

Following the complete failure of civil authorities to give people relief during the 2017 monsoon season, the 111 Brigade of had taken control of Nullah Leh.

The rain spell had wreaked havoc in the city and cantonment areas. Rainwater entered the streets of Nadeem Colony, Javed Colony, Arya Colony, Amar Pura, and many other residential colonies. The residents of downtown areas had migrated to safe areas.

Cleaning the nullah

The city administration has been making claims of cleaning the drain that traverses through many old areas of the city.

People have been using Leh and 11 other tributaries as garbage dumps for decades creating a mess far beyond the powers of city administration to clean up.

However, earlier this week Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) said that in order to ensure smooth flow of water and saving areas from getting submerged in rains, the corporation has started cleaning of all 11 storm drains that open in Nullah Leh.

The teams under RMC Infrastructure Officer Rafaqat Hayat Gondal cleared all the drains in Javed Colony. The drains were cleared using heavy machinery. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2019.