RAWALPINDI: Special Secretary of Punjab Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Tayyab Farid on Saturday visited Rawalpindi to inspect the preparedness of Wasa, RDA and district administration for monsoon.

He reviewed the monsoon preparations of Wasa and inspected the cleaning work of Leh Nullah at Gawalmandi Bridge.

“After the recent forecast of the meteorological department, the civic bodies need to be alert,,” he stated this on the occasion of his visit to Leh Nullah.

He said Wasa Rawalpindi has made extensive preparations to deal with monsoon, including timely cleaning of major drains and sewage lines of the city along with Leh Nullah.

He directed Wasa that the next two months are very important during which there is a need to be alert all the time and work in full coordination with the Meteorological Department and with the forecast of rains in the low lying areas machinery and Staff should be appointed to deal with any kind of emergency situation.

He further said that the Punjab government had provided timely funds for the annual clean-up, due to which Wasa has completed the clean-up measures in Rawalpindi on time and it is hoped that the citizens will not face any

difficulties.

He said that the district administration was monitoring the entire process and all civic bodies were working with the district administration with a comprehensive strategy. Earlier, Wasa Managing Director Mohammad Saleem Ashraf while giving a briefing said that Wasa has completed preparations before monsoonand completed the cleanliness of Leh Nullah on July 15.

However, he said that second phase of the cleanliness was started in which all the silt coming in nullah in recent rains would clean within a week time. The Punjab government took the drains and released funds forthe cleaning of 11 big nullahs in the city.

He said that section 144 has been imposed to discourage dumping garbage and construction material waste in Leh Nullah and so far few cases have been registered against who tried to dump construction material waste.

He further said that during monsoon rain emergency is enforced in which all the field staff leaves are canceled and the staff is present in the field round the clock.

He said that five flood response units have been set up in the city at Liaquat Bagh, Moti Mahal, Commercial Market, Bagh Sardaran and Khayaban Sir Syed.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2024