LWMC declares rain emergency

LAHORE:

The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has declared a rain emergency in the city amidst the spell of strong monsoon rains.

LWMC employees are working in parallel shifts to ensure waste-free surroundings during and after downpours, said an LWMC press release. Staff and machinery from contractors Albayrak and Ozpak have been sent to all nine towns to carry out cleaning operations. LWMC staff has also been deputed in Water and Sanitation Agency control rooms and emergency centres to improve coordination between the two departments.

LWMC employees have been working 24/7 at 99 ‘sensitive points’ in Lahore since the rain started on Saturday morning, said the press release. They have been focussing particularly on Lakshmi Chowk, Chowk Nakhuda, Do Moria Pul, Gulberg’s Centre Point, Gulberg’s Main Market, Shadman Market, MAO College Chowk and the Walled City.

The LWMC helpline received 890 complaints in the last two days and these were addressed urgently, said the press release. All field and office staff have been told to report for duty and holidays have been cancelled as long as the rain continues. Company officials are continuously monitoring field staff, said the press release.

Addressing an extraordinary meeting with operations staff, the LWMC Managing Director Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry gave orders about the deployment of machinery in the city during the monsoon.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2012.