ISLAMABAD, July 3: Carrying out a monsoon flood emergency survey, the civic authorities have declared 28 places along the big drains in the capital “vulnerable”.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), 10 per cent above than normal rains are expected in northern half of Pakistan, including Islamabad and Kashmir.

“These 28 points have been declared vulnerable in different localities and slums from where big drains pass through,” Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), said on Sunday.

The city managers claim they have made a comprehensive plan to cope with any emergency during the monsoon. They have issued notices to the slum dwellers who have built houses on the banks of drains, asking them to demolish the “illegal structures” on their own.

“Dwellers of katchi abadis particularly those located in sectors G-7/1, G-7/2, G-7/3, G-8/1, F-7/4 and F-6 have been warned through public notice for demolishing their houses. Otherwise CDA would take action and demolish these structures,” Ramzan Sajid, the authority’s spokesman, said.

The chairman took a round of different areas of the city on Sunday to inspect the arrangements made under the authority’s Flood Relief Cell (FRC) and later chaired a review meeting.  The relevant offices of the authority were directed to take immediate and concrete measures for improving the situation at 28 vulnerable points identified during the survey.

Meanwhile, a public notice has also been published in national dailies for removing all “illegal sewage/drainage connections in streets or Nullahs” immediately.

“These illegal connections have a risk of flowing back during the monsoon. All stakeholders have also been warned to strictly follow the rules and connect the sewage and drainage lines of houses and buildings with the municipality’s main lines,” the spokesman said.

The authority’s relief cell has been established at the Directorate of Emergency & Disaster Management, Fire Headquarters, in Sector G-7/1. The directorates of maintenance, environment, enforcement, municipal administration, planning, E&M maintenance, Machinery Pool Organization (MPO) and Capital Hospital are part of the relief services.

The chairman said the cell was working round the clock with 20 large and small size dewatering pumps, front end loaders and dumpers.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has agreed to provide the authority boats for rescuing the people in case of high flood. “The CDA has also arranged tents,” Mr Sajid said.

Under the flood emergency plan vigilance teams have been formed to have a constant liaison with the PMD and district administration. Arrangements have also been made to monitor water level in Simly Dam daily. The administrations of the Capital Hospital and all CDA’s dispensaries have been put on alert as the Directorate of Health Services has been asked to ensure proper spray and fumigation on regular basis.