Call for early dredging of storm drains

Caretaker housing minister briefed on ongoing uplift schemes

RAWALPINDI:

Caretaker Provincial Minister Housing and Public Health Engineering, Barrister Syed Azfar Ali Nasir, Thursday directed Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to complete the dredging and de-silting projects of all storm water drains by June 30 to ensure drainage of water in case of heavy rains.

The minister issued these directives in a meeting held at the Commissioner's Office, where he was given a detailed briefing on different ongoing projects and the performance of different departments.

Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha, Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema and heads of all the departments concerned participated in the meeting.

Later, addressing a press conference, the minister informed that on the special directives of the Punjab chief minister, the performance of the government departments was being reviewed. “We are striving to improve individual performance of the government officials through effective monitoring,” he said adding, efforts were also being made to find solutions to the problems being faced by the government departments.

He said visits were being conducted in all the divisions so that hindrances, if any, in the public welfare projects could be removed. “We have to perform our professional responsibilities with dedication and hard work for public welfare,” he said, adding, the doors of the government officers should always be open for the citizens.

He directed the deputy commissioner to launch a grand operation to remove encroachments from all city areas and zero tolerance policy should be adopted against encroachments. He was informed that security cameras had been installed on the cash boxes at 72 shrines being managed by the Auqaf Department.

The minister while talking about the May 9 incidents informed that eight vehicles of Rescue-1122, which were being used for the public welfare, were burnt. Metro Bus Stations were also burnt and damaged in Rawalpindi which would be rehabilitated at a cost of Rs1 billion, he added.

The minister said that public properties worth Rs8 to 10 billion were destroyed during May 9 violent protests. “Prime minister and Punjab chief minister issued directives that no innocent person should be sent behind bars for May 9 riots,” he said adding, the cases of the culprits involved in the May 9 incidents, would be prosecuted under anti-terror laws.

Nearly 5,500 including 18 female accused were rounded up on May 9 on charges of violent protests. 22 innocent persons netted in Rawalpindi were released later. A total of 75 accused allegedly involved in May 9 incidents had been identified in Rawalpindi, he said.

Citizens asked not to litter drains

On the other hand, WASA Managing Director Muhammad Tanveer said the agency was fully prepared to cope with any flood situation during rains.

He urged the citizens not to throw shopping bags, solid waste and garbage in Nullah Leh and other nullahs of the district. He said the agency on the directives of the Rawalpindi commissioner had kicked off the dredging and de-silting work of Nullah Leh.

Tanveer said WASA would complete the dredging and de-silting work of Nullah Leh before the start of the monsoon season.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2023.