Govt slammed over 'flood mismanagement'
(Clockwise) Nullah Leh flows in very high flood under a bridge in Gowalmandi; commuters make their way through a flooded street and vehicles wade through flooded water in Rahimabad neighbourhood after heavy rains in Rawalpindi. Photos: Agencies
With the monsoon season reaching its end, the flood alert season and emergency is also scheduled to end in Rawalpindi from September 15.
The flood relief camps which had been set up in eight schools across Rawalpindi had already been closed when educational institutions reopened. The flood control room will also be closed after September 15. All the officers posted in the control room during the flood alert emergency season are expected to return after it closes.
This year too, the district administration was completely helpless as it failed to protect the citizens of Rawalpindi from the flood disasters. A total of eight people, including a senior retired uniformed officer, lost their lives in the flood disasters in Rawalpindi. The government, nor the administration has provided any substantial financial assistance to the families who drowned in the flood.
Damages incurred during the flood include the destruction of the oldest building in Rawalpindi. The wholesale shopping center, the historic Raja Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, Trunk Bazaar, Mochi Bazaar, Dangi Khoi, Bara Bazaar, Bohar Bazaar were also affected. The steepest areas where the flood water was 3 feet to 12 feet, included Nadeem Colony, Javed Colony, Fazlabad, Sharon Colony, Sadiqabad, Ziaul Haq Colony, Dhok Hasso, Mohanpura, Bhosa Gomada area, Shale Valley, two large housing societies, Bazaar, Saham, People's Colony, Tanch Bhata and the rural areas of Adiala
Goods worth crores of rupees, clothes, medicines, electronics, household goods and furniture were destroyed in shops, plazas and godowns when commercial streets were flooded. The district administration claims and announcements to control the flood water though the rainwater drains has failed miserably. Funds worth Rs140 million that were acquired for the thorough cleaning of the drain, and 15 rainwater drains appear to have been washed away as well.
The flood season in Rawalpindi is known to last from June 15 to September 15 every year. Yet, each time, over and over again, the overflowing drains wreak havoc. Flood water invades houses, markets, streets, shops, plazas, low-lying areas and recedes on its own after four to six hours. However, this time, the flood water remained stagnated in the low-lying areas for 13 to 18 hours.
No minister, advisor, members of the assembly, commissioners or officers visited any of the low-lying areas in Rawalpindi city or the Cantt area. They only stuck to the safe picnic point at Gowalmandi bridge and conducted photo sessions for the press. Neither City Sadar Road, nor Nullah Leh Bridge was given any attention.
From September 15, the flood emergency will be completely lifted, and a dengue emergency will be implemented.
Vegetable Market Traders Association President Ghulam Qadir Mir said that this year, the disasters of the flood season have led losses worth crores of rupees to traders alone, but unfortunately, the government has not come to express its regret, let alone provide financial assistance to any affected and devastated trader.
Citizen Action Committee Chairman Malik Zaheer Awan said that the government and the administration have left the entire city at the mercy of flood waters. "An inquiry audit should be conducted on the expenditure of Rs140 million on the construction of drains and cleaning of rainwater drains," he demanded.