Rain, lack of bridges up the trouble for rural populace

The long awaited bridges missed badly as the locals remain cut off from capital.

ISLAMABAD:

The romance of monsoon rains turned into nuisance for the inhabitants of the twin cities. People living in the rural areas of the capital were naturally the most-affected. As the plan to construct bridges at the seasonal streams and drains was skipped for another year, the downpour translated into the suburbs being cut off from Islamabad.

The heavy rains which continued throughout the day on Monday ensured that the Rawal Dam was filled to the capacity. Its spillways were opened at 1:30pm which provided more water to the already surging Korang drain. There were places where the locals had conquered the fearsome water with the help of lifts, which the locals have made on self help basis, to reach their homes. On the other hand, vehicles had to take much longer routes as the low-lying roads and bridges remained submerged in the rainwater.

People were found pulling the ropes of the lift over Korang at Zia Masjid, which lies near the Islamabad Expressway. Whereas, the newly constructed bridge at Kuri Road served as the breakthrough point for the vehicles.

In the last fiscal year, the district administration had identified 21 dangerous points for constructing bridges for the locals. The projects remains in the state of a limbo and come monsoon people of the area are now left with no other option but to brave the treacherous water at Korang to commute. People from Bhara Kahu, Phulgran, Sihala, Koral, Tarlai and Sohan along with other places were at the “receiving end” of the rain. Moreover, the settlements next to Nullah Leh in the I-9 area and drainage canal in I-8 also remained under threat from the increasing water flow.

According to the officials at Rawal Dam, the gauge-level at the reservoir is 1752 feet. However, when the water reaches 1748 feet the gates are opened. The discharged water then flows into River Soan from the Korang drain. The catchment area for the dam is the hills of Murree.

Moreover, the district administration has been taking measures to avoid a repeat of the tragedy which happened last year in which two men lost their lives while crossing Korang. Deputy Commission Amir Ahmed Ali has issued orders prohibiting people from taking bath in the nullah or fishing there. “Capital Development Authority and Rawal Dam administration are also monitoring the situation,” said an official.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2011.