Fearing flash floods: Rescue 1122 urges dredging of streams before Monsoon

Official said the Rescue 1122 control room would start functioning from June 1.

RAWALPINDI:

Rescue 1122 on Monday expressed fear of flashfloods in low-lying areas of the city if dredging of Nullah Leh tributaries was not completed before the advent of the monsoon season in mid-June.

They conveyed their concerns to the district administration and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) managing director, suggesting immediate remedial measures be taken by Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and Solid Waste Management Company (SWMC).

Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Dr Abdul Rehman said a detailed survey of 11 streams passing through different the city was carried out and most were clogged with garbage.

“We have informed the relevant departments about the present state of affairs and suggested measures to avoid floods in the monsoon,” he said.

He said the Rescue 1122 control room would start functioning from June 1 and would monitor the water level in the Leh’s tributaries from Katarian to Soan River to deal with any emergency.

During the survey, he said, flood alarm systems installed at the streams were also working. Sources in WASA said that a comprehensive month-long dredging and desilting plan was under way and will be completed before the monsoon starts.

They said Leh and its tributaries were the major drainage system through which rainwater from the twin cities was discharged into the Soan River.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2014.