Plan afoot to cope with monsoon floods

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has charted out a plan to deal with possible monsoon floods and to carry out the dredging of Nullah Leh, timely discharge of water from low-lying areas, and keeping sewerage systems across the city functional.

According to official sources, WASA has devised the plan following the met office’s forecast of more-than-normal rains this year.

To materialise the plan, the civic agency has asked the provincial government to release a grant of Rs40 million.

Under the Monsoon Flood Prevention Plan, the body is preparing the dredging of Nullah Leh, cleaning of 10 major rain drains flowing across the city, complete cleaning of sewage lines, overhauling of machinery, and purchasing of new small water pumps.

The body has requested funds through a formal letter, sources said.

Previously, the Meteorological Department had predicted more-than-normal monsoon rains this year.

WASA Managing Director (MD) Tanveer Ahmad while confirming the preparations said that due to the timely measures, no flood-like situation was reported in Nullah Leh last year despite heavy rains.

This year, we have prepared a plan to clean the drains and sewerage lines even before the pre-monsoon, he said and added that from March, we will start the complete cleaning of the drains and sewerage lines.

“This cleaning campaign will be completed in less than two months,” the official said.

If new machinery is required for cleaning the sewer lines, they will also be purchased while complete overhauling of all machinery will also be done, he added.

As per the plan, machinery will also be installed along with the deployment of staff near underpasses and in low-lying areas.

He further said that there is a risk of flooding even during pre-monsoon rains, so we have decided to complete all cleaning measures before time.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2023.