SC petitioned against inaction of civic authorities
Petitioner wants authorities to implement preventive measures at Nullah Leh
Supreme Court. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
A petition was moved in the Supreme Court on Monday to take action against officials of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for not taking preventive measures to save the lives of people residing alongside Nullah Leh from annual floods.
Abdullah Tahir, an advocate, filed a petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution and prayed to constitute a judicial commission comprising retired judges of the Supreme Court or high courts and engineers, nominated by the Pakistan Engineering Council, to inquire and submit a detailed report of preventive measures taken by the authorities.
The petition asks the government “to direct the respondents to commence Nullah Leh project to save lives and properties of inhabitants of Rawalpindi/ and Islamabad from regular floods without further delay.”
Secretary to the Punjab chief minister, heads of the Capital Development Authority and Rawalpindi Development Authority, Rawalpindi district coordination officer, and chief engineer flood at the Federal Flood Commission have been made respondents in the petition.
The petition mentioned that in the last 70 years (1944 to 2015) more than 20 floods have caused damages but still there is no planning to save the people of Rawalpindi.
The petition stated that on July 23, 2001, a total 620mm rainfall was recorded within 10 hours at Islamabad’s metrological station. The water level at Nullah Leh rose and all houses and road bridges along its path were swept away. A total of 74 people died, 40,000 were affected, 742 cattle perished, 1,087 houses were completely damaged besides 2,448 being partially damaged. Estimates indicated a loss of Rs15 billion to infrastructure, government property and to small and medium scale business enterprises, the petitioner claims.
Everyone is aware that every year during the monsoon season, water level in Nullah Leh increases and poses a threat to the people of Rawalpindi living alongside it, but the relevant authorities have done nothing to address these problems, it states further.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency has given grants, technical assistance and equipment for the safety of people living alongside the stream but the attitude of respondents is hopeless, the petitioner explained.
The Nullah Leh project should have been a priority of the provincial government but it gave importance to the metro bus and ignored this grave crisis, he adds.
The petitioner said the Metro Bus Project worsened Nullah Leh’s overflowing problem since the earth removed in the digging process was dumped into the stream causing it to become narrower.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2015.
A petition was moved in the Supreme Court on Monday to take action against officials of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for not taking preventive measures to save the lives of people residing alongside Nullah Leh from annual floods.
Abdullah Tahir, an advocate, filed a petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution and prayed to constitute a judicial commission comprising retired judges of the Supreme Court or high courts and engineers, nominated by the Pakistan Engineering Council, to inquire and submit a detailed report of preventive measures taken by the authorities.
The petition asks the government “to direct the respondents to commence Nullah Leh project to save lives and properties of inhabitants of Rawalpindi/ and Islamabad from regular floods without further delay.”
Secretary to the Punjab chief minister, heads of the Capital Development Authority and Rawalpindi Development Authority, Rawalpindi district coordination officer, and chief engineer flood at the Federal Flood Commission have been made respondents in the petition.
The petition mentioned that in the last 70 years (1944 to 2015) more than 20 floods have caused damages but still there is no planning to save the people of Rawalpindi.
The petition stated that on July 23, 2001, a total 620mm rainfall was recorded within 10 hours at Islamabad’s metrological station. The water level at Nullah Leh rose and all houses and road bridges along its path were swept away. A total of 74 people died, 40,000 were affected, 742 cattle perished, 1,087 houses were completely damaged besides 2,448 being partially damaged. Estimates indicated a loss of Rs15 billion to infrastructure, government property and to small and medium scale business enterprises, the petitioner claims.
Everyone is aware that every year during the monsoon season, water level in Nullah Leh increases and poses a threat to the people of Rawalpindi living alongside it, but the relevant authorities have done nothing to address these problems, it states further.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency has given grants, technical assistance and equipment for the safety of people living alongside the stream but the attitude of respondents is hopeless, the petitioner explained.
The Nullah Leh project should have been a priority of the provincial government but it gave importance to the metro bus and ignored this grave crisis, he adds.
The petitioner said the Metro Bus Project worsened Nullah Leh’s overflowing problem since the earth removed in the digging process was dumped into the stream causing it to become narrower.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2015.