The citizens particularly those living in low-lying areas of the city and along nullahs have been urged not to throw garbage and solid waste in drains as they create blockage in the way of flood water.

District Officer (Solid Waste) Dr. Mazhar said this while talking to this agency. He said dredging work of 11 nullahs and 454 drains, which flow into Nullah Leh, would be completed till June 30 as now it is in final stages.

He appealed to the citizens to cooperate with sanitation department and refrain from throwing garbage in nullahs.

He said the citizens should come forward and play their role to make the efforts of the sanitation department regarding cleanliness of nullahs a success. Filth and solid waste should only be deposited at garbage points from where it could easily be removed, he added.

To a question he said, those who are violating the orders of the city district government and throwing garbage in nullahs are being challaned and fined. More than 70 challans were issued recently to the violators. Four special teams were constituted to conduct raids and fined the violators, he added.

The public role is essential especially in protecting low-lying areas of the city from flood devastations, he said adding, solid waste, garbage, shopping bags should not be thrown in nullahs as they create blockage in the way of flood water. Resultantly the floodwater plays havoc with the properties and lives of the people, he added.

Meanwhile, Water and Sewerage Agency (WASA) has claimed to have cleared silt and solid waste from main areas of Nullah Leh. Talking to this agency, Wasa Deputy Director said Nullah Lef mainly in low-lying areas have been cleared of silt and solid waste adding the nullah has been further widened and deepened to save the city from the flood devastations.

Gawalmandi area was especially focused during the cleanliness drive as due to heavily populated locality, a large amount of garbage and filth is thrown in the nullah, which creates obstacle in the smooth flow of floodwater, he said adding, the section of the nullah has been cleared.