The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has decided to auction off the desilting contract for Nullah Leh and 15 smaller stormwater drains. Tenders for the project will be held on May 8, and the contract will be awarded the same day to the lowest bidding company.
According to official sources, the total estimated cost of the project is Rs140 millionRs80 million for Nullah Leh and Rs60 million for the other stormwater drains.
The first and major phase of the cleanup will begin on May 10 and is expected to be completed by June 15.
The Punjab government has approved the requested funds, with the first instalment to be released next week.
Meanwhile, WASA has already launched emergency cleanup operations in sewer drains across all union councils of Rawalpindi using state-of-the-art suction machinery.
Drains in UC Ratta Amral, Hazara Colony, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Sadiqabad and Mohanpura have already been cleared.
Installation of manhole covers across the city is also underway, with 50 per cent of the work completed.
Debris and waste removed from the drains are being transported out of the city.
WASA's Managing Director Saleem Ashraf has issued strict instructions to ensure that all waste is promptly moved to dumping grounds to prevent it from being washed back into the drains during rain.
Cleanup of all pipeline sewer drains is to be completed by May 15, in line with pre-monsoon readiness targets. Ashraf stated that after the initial cleanup of Nullah Leh, 24-hour monitoring will be implemented. Legal action will be taken against anyone found dumping building materials or garbage into Nullah Leh or the stormwater drains.
The cleaning operation will continue beyond June 15 until the end of the monsoon season on August 30.
The contract will be awarded to a company equipped with modern machinery capable of operating in narrow drains.
Furthermore, orders have been issued to clean all sewer pipelines and stormwater channels across Rawalpindi to ensure uninterrupted water flow during rains.
A dedicated team with machinery has been deployed at Committee Chowk Underpass for round-the-clock water drainage during rainfalls.
box
Ministry seeks proposals for uplift projects
our correspondent
RAWALPINDI. The Finance Ministry has directed all developmental and local government institutions in District Rawalpindiincluding education and health departmentsto submit details of proposed development schemes for the 202526 fiscal year, along with estimated costs.
The district administration has begun compiling annual development summaries for inclusion in the Punjab government's Annual Development Programme (ADP). Departments such as the Municipal Corporation, District Council, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Health, and Education are preparing their proposals, which must be submitted by May 15.
These summaries will help the Finance Ministry determine which projects will be funded under Rawalpindi's share of the provincial development budget.
Special funds are also being allocated for the newly established District Murree, focusing on hill area development, landslide prevention, and resolving water and gas shortages. The long-delayed Dhar Jawa Dam project for Murree has now been approved, alongside plans for an international park and a signal-free corridor from Murree to the Motorway and GT Road.
Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi announced that the 202526 fiscal year will see a record number of development projects in Rawalpindi, including the construction of the Leh Expressway, new dams, hospital upgrades, and increased student intake in government schools.
The city is also set to launch electric buses across key routes and revamp transport infrastructure, particularly the stretch from Mareer Chowk to Thalian Mohalla. Rail services connecting Rawalpindi to Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan will also be upgraded.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ