PESHAWAR: About one millimeter rain turned several main roads and streets of the provincial capital into rivulets that caused severe traffic jam various localities.

Local Met office said that one millimeter rain was recorded at its main observatory on Khyber Road. Solid waste, particularly polythene bags that stuck in drains, caused flood-like situation which inundated main arteries. The waste material chocked outdated drains that flooded the roads, causing problems to motorists and pedestrians.

Long queues of vehicles were seen on the roads as people remained stranded in their cars. University Road was blocked at Tambuwan More (turn) and Gora Qabristan. Streets were also seen overflowing in University Town while rainwater flooded the main road near Mombati Chowk.

Solid waste stuck in drains causes flood-like situation in several localities

Despite weekly off day, staff of Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) was called out to open the chocked drains to clear roads of the accumulated water.

The vehicles coming from Hayatabad and other areas were diverted to Ring Road to ease the traffic muddle.

Nasir Ghafoor, the WSSP general manager (operations), attributed flood like situation on the University Road’s iron gratings. He said that Peshawar Development Authority had fixed gratings after constructing dedicated U-turns on the University Road as a result polythene bags and other wastes stuck in those gratings.

“Problems started since PDA fixed gratings at the newly built U-turns,” he told Dawn. He said that urban flooding was becoming a major issue in Peshawar metropolis because of massive use of polythene and lack of civic education.

“Drains have been constructed to carry water, but not solid waste and other material,” said Mr Ghafoor. He added that citizens threw all types of solid wastes in the narrow drains.

It is worth mentioning that the provincial government had decided to place ban on use of polythene bags to address the issue of urban flooding in Peshawar. A committee was also constituted to oversee ban on polythene bags, especially black shopping bags. But recommendations of the committee have yet to see light of the day.

In addition, the government made amendments to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Canal and Drainage Act in 2015, enhancing punishment for violators of the law. Under the amended law, people will not encroach on the side areas of water canal. They will not divert sewerage lines towards the canal and will not throw garbage and polythene bags in canal to block flow of water.

Punishment for violator of the law has been increased from Rs50 to Rs20,000 and two years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, In Shangla district snowfall and heavy downpour turned the weather cold. The snowfall reported in hilly areas of Spin Ghar, Kapar, Banda and Gamtal while rain in plains including Bisham, Alpuri, Shapor, Chakesar, Puran etc started from Saturday and continued on Sunday.

The local people again started wearing sweaters and jackets and other warm clothes.

Rain was also reported from Swat and Upper Dir.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2016