People demand embankment along Soan River
The residents of Sharon Colony, a predominantly Christian locality, have urged the authorities to construct a safety wall along Soan River to protect their homes from floods.
At least 200 homes in Sharon Colony were flooded on Thursday when Soan River swelled after prolonged rains. Army, district administration and volunteers used boats to evacuate residents of the inundated houses.
On Friday, Rawalpindi Commissioner Muhammad Mahmood was in the locality to review the damages. People told him that whenever there were heavy rains, the river would swell and enter their homes.
The colony was built on encroached land in the Soan River bed. It was however regularized on political pressure. The other areas swept by river torrents on Thursday included Soan Gardens.
Sharon Colony residents asked Commissioner Mahmood to get embankments built along the river to protect human lives and properties.
Water sharing between Afghanistan and Pakistan
Commissioner Mahmood accompanied by administrative officers visited various spots of Sharon, Christian Colony and Soan River and directed Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Raja Shaukat to speed up the dewatering operation in the city.
He was accompanied by Headquarters Additional Deputy Commissioner Mahim Asif, Saddar Assistant Commissioner Mansoor Ghazi, Rescue 1122 Director Dr Abdul Rehman along with other administrative officers.
The team also reviewed the rising water level in the Soan River in view of the recent rains and the possible impact on the surrounding populations.
They also inspected the houses where there were complaints of water entering the basements. These basements had been constructed contrary to the building by-laws whereas many structures were out-rightly unauthorised, sources said.
Commissioner said that Rescue 1122 relief camp has been set up to deal with the flood situation. He said that no one has control over natural disasters. However, we can reduce their destructiveness to some extent by taking precautionary measures. In view of the forecast of the Meteorological Department, the district administration has ensured timely cleaning of 11 drains of Rawalpindi which fall into Nala Leh due to which there is a high risk of floods. Drains have also been cleaned to improve the sewerage system throughout the city.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2020.