Section 144 imposed to curb garbage dumping in sewers

RCB head says FIRs will be registered against violators

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has deputed special teams to monitor nullahs while enforcing Section 144 to prevent the dumping of garbage and building material in 42 sewage drains under monsoon operation.

The cantt authorities have also decided to file a first information report (FIR) against those who put trash and building materials in the sewers.

The RCB had started the operation of mechanised and manual cleaning of the sewage drains before the monsoon by setting up drain cleaning gangs to clean 14 major and 28 minor drains, under which the cleaning of sewage drains was once completed and now the second round of cleaning has started.

RCB Cantonment Executive Officer Imran Gulzar said: “At present, during the cleaning of sewage drains, more focus has been put on the cleaning of the sewage drains which are near the imambargahs so that those who visit the imambargahs during Muharram may not face any difficulties.”

The CEO said in the last spell of monsoon rains when 205 mm of rain was recorded, no sewage drain overflowed in the Cantt due to better cleaning of sewage drains.

The CEO went on to add that there were encroachments on the top and sides of the sewers which will be removed. In this regard, a survey had been conducted during the recent rains and the operation to demolish these illegal constructions will be started after the monsoon season, he continued.

The CEO said the big sewage drains were being cleaned with the help of machinery and the cleaning of small drains was being carried out manually by the drain cleaning gang.

He said Section 144 was imposed to stop those who put garbage and building materials in the sewers and special teams were appointed to monitor the sewers. “Now FIRs will be registered against those violating Section 144,” he warned.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2023.