Rawalpindi completes Leh dredging

RAWALPINDI:

Ahead of the monsoon season, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has completed the desilting of Nullah Leh, a key flood channel in Rawalpindi.

The project, launched on May 8 with heavy machinery and manpower, concluded recently and cost Rs80 million, funded by the Punjab government.

The effort aims to ensure that major water flow during the monsoon can pass through Nullah Leh to the Soan River without causing urban flooding. Seven machines will remain stationed along the channel's banks until September as a precautionary measure.

The 8-kilometre-long channel and 15 adjoining sewerage drains within Rawalpindi were cleared of silt, with efforts focused on increasing depth, removing blockages near bridges and culverts, and ensuring uninterrupted water flow.

The project underwent two third-party inspections—by the secretary of housing and the commissioner's team—with a third inspection scheduled by the Federal Flood Commission.

WASA also inspected all its monsoon-related machinery and launched a simultaneous cleaning operation for 15 city drains, expected to be completed by June 30. Additionally, it is working to clean and cover all open manholes, with a six-hour response time for complaint resolution.

Preparations for the monsoon also include the establishment of one control room at the WASA headquarters and five emergency camps across the city.