Islamabad: Saturday’s rain exposes CDG’s failure to control flooding

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Terence J Sigamony
RAWALPINDI: Saturday’s pre-dawn downpour, which caused havoc in low-lying areas of Rawalpindi, exposed the city district government’s (CDG) claims of putting in place a flood control programme.

Inappropriate arrangements by civic agencies coupled with a faulty sewerage system saw rainwater making its way into shops and houses to trouble inhabitants of low-lying areas.

Moti Bazaar, Bohar Bazaar, Jamia Masjid Road, Purana Qila, Bagh Sardaran, Kohati Bazaar, City Saddar Road and Mohanpura were the areas most affected by heavy downpour with two to three feet rainwater ruining goods and electrical appliances worth millions of rupees.

More than 65 shops in Moti Bazaar and 25 in Bohar Bazaar were destroyed by rainwater.

The sources said that contrary to the official claim, only 40 per cent dredging of nullahs and sewers had been done so far.

On June 23, Executive District Officer (Municipal Services) Imtiaz Ahmed Malik had informed a meeting at the DCO Office that 90 per cent sewers and nullahs would be dredged for mud and solid waste by the end of the month. Heavy rain in the early hours of Saturday, however, gave the lie to the claim.

Malik told Daily Times that dredging of the city nullahs was underway. He said that Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was responsible for dredging Leh Nullah because it had required staff and machinery unlike the city district government.

District Coordination Officer Syed Jamal Mustafa said that the FWO was carrying out work on Sheikh Rashid Expressway, so it was responsible for cleaning Leh Nullah from Gwalmandi to Liaquat Bagh. He said the CDG was dredging the nullah between New Katarian and Gwalmandi Chowk.

It’s learnt that instead of a qualified official, a peon and a clerk received information about flood situation at the district central flood control room over telephone before passing them on to the officials concerned.

The room has been set up at the Executive District Officer (Revenue) offices on the premises of district courts.

The CDG has also failed to establish four proposed flood relief centres in the city despite the start of monsoon. These centres are to be set up at Islamia High School No 4, Liaquat Bagh, Government High School, Daryaabad, Islamia High School, Ratta Amral, and Government Boys High School, New Katarian. Each centre will accommodate 500 to 700 people affected by flood, while staff will be present there round the clock to look after the distressed lot.

People affected by Friday night rain criticised the CDG for doing nothing to prevent low-lying areas from flooding.

Ghulam Muhammad, a resident of Gwalmandi, said that the government sprang into action when floodwater wreaked havoc on areas located alongside Leh Nullah. He said that whenever there’s heavy rain, people of low-lying area had sleepless nights for fear of flooding.

Muhammad Shahid, another resident of the locality, said that Leh had become nuisance for low-lying areas as in case of overflow of water from the nullah, people had to move household goods and appliances upstairs to prevent them from possible damage.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg11_5