Rawalpindi: Nullah Leh Expressway: Incomplete work likely to cause floo

[Naveed Yaseen]

* District administration prepares emergency plan
* Sets up district flood centre

By Aamir Yasin
RAWALPINDI: The incomplete work on Nullah Leh Expressway and Flood Channel Project may choke the Nullah resulting in devastating flash floods in the city during current monsoon.

Sources in City District Government told Daily Times that due to incomplete work on the project, the Nullah Leh might overflow as the Met Office has predicted above normal monsoon rains in Rawalpindi, Islamabad areas.

They said contractor had started work on the project last year but stopped it before the general elections. They said incomplete construction work at some points including Moti Mehal, Murree Road and behind the Novelty Cinema near Ratta Amral was likely to block smooth flow of water in Leh and cause floods.

They said if 50 mm rains occurred in the twin cities the Nullah Leh water level would rise to 18 feet, which was the dangerous level mark. They said despite widening and excavation of Leh to increase its capacity, the garbage being dumped in it was still adversely affecting the water flow.

They said about 1,000 tonnes of solid waste, including construction material, was being thrown into Leh on daily basis due to poor management of the authorities. “If this practice goes unchecked one can imagine what a heavy downpour can do to the Leh and its surrounding areas,” they added.

About 30 kilometres long Leh comprises six major tributaries including three originating from Margalla Hills Islamabad that flow down to Rawalpindi where another three join them.

During the British rule, Leh water was clean having fishes, turtles and a variety of other aquatic life. Swimming in Leh was a fovourite pastime of youth.

The nullah floods in monsoon season when the twin cities and adjoining areas receive heavy rainfall. It witnessed worst flood on July 23, 2001 when just in a few hours 620mm rain played havoc with low lying areas of Rawalpindi. Thirty-five people lost their lives while many slums were swept away resulting in financial loss worth millions of rupees. The sources said the city district government had declared 30 to 40 localities dangerous, due to flood in Leh and its tributaries during monsoon. These localities include Nadeem Colony, Ziaul Haq Colony, Javid Colony, Muslim Colony, Usmanpura, Nayya Mohallah, Dhoke Charaghdin, Mukha Singh Estate, Satellite Town, Muslim Town, Sadiqabad, Dhoke Elahi Bakhsh, Dhoke Mirza, Tehmasapabad, Mohllah Ahmed Ali Shah, Chaman Zar Colony, Gawalmandi, Dhoke Dalal, Amarpura, Moti Mahal, Saidpur Road, Katarian, Ratta Amral, Dhoke Ratta, Malpur, Christian Colony, Angatpura, Mohallah Imam Bara and Dhoke Hassu.

Emergency plan: The sources said the district administration had prepared a plan to control any untoward situation and had set up a district flood centre at the office of the district coordination officer (DCO) and four flood centres to provide relief to the residents of low-lying areas along Leh at Islamia High School, Liaquat Road, FG School for Girls, Daryabad (Gowalmandi), FG School Ratta Amral and Government College for Girls, New Katarian.

They said the local government should pay attention to the causes of flood in Leh. Encroachments along the nullah, which are main cause of flood should be removed, they added. They said many times the administration launched anti-encroachment drives but failed due to political pressure and inefficiency of their officials.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg11_1