Four-pronged plan to tackle Leh floods

After losses worth millions of rupees in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad caused by the fifth and most dangerous spell of monsoon rains on September 1, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Rawalpindi has prepared a reference containing four options to protect citizens from future devastation caused by Nullah Leh.

The reference will be sent to the Punjab government.

The reference recommends that the Punjab and federal governments implement the proposed plan to protect the twin cities from destruction caused by monsoon rains in the future.

According to sources, more than 200 millimetres of rain in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on September 1 resulted in one death and damage to vehicles and valuables worth millions of rupees.

The reference prepared by WASA proposes that the catchment areas of Nullah Leh in Rawalpindi and Islamabad be improved to prevent such a situation in future.

It says the water channel of Nullah Leh can be improved by widening it. A dam can also be built on a nullah near F-9 Park in Islamabad, which could prevent a large flood surge from entering Rawalpindi.

The direction of Saidpur Nullah can also be diverted from Nullah Leh towards Korang Nullah, which could reduce the pressure of floodwater on Nullah Leh.

The reference states that waterways must be cleared at all costs to prevent such devastation in future.

According to the WASA reference, although Nullah Lai and all sewerage drains had been cleaned before the monsoon this year, the width of Nullah Leh at Gawalmandi and Ganjmandi had been reduced by placing building material, causing an unusual disturbance to its water channel.

Once again, complete cleaning of Nullah Leh and sewerage drains has become essential because material, trees and other objects brought by the flow of water during rains have disturbed the water channel.

Sources said the reference prepared by WASA had recommended that the Punjab government, in coordination with the federal government, take practical steps to permanently resolve the issue so that Nullah Leh does not cause destruction in Rawalpindi during next year's monsoon.

Meanwhile, WASA Managing Director Azizullah Khan said the longstanding issue of Nullah Leh had become necessary to resolve on a permanent basis to protect the city from flood devastation in future.

He said proposals were being sent to the Punjab government in the form of a reference so that future planning could be carried out accordingly.