Rawalpindi : The Director General (DG) Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) has directed all managing directors of the province including of Rawalpindi to complete all arrangements regarding of monsoon before May 31.
Director General Punjab WASA Tayyab Farid, while presiding over a meeting held to review the performance of all WASAs, has said that all five WASAs should expedite monsoon preparations. Cleaning of sewerage lines, drains, repairing of heavy machinery, timely installation of monsoon camps, as well as training exercises and identification of low-lying areas should be completed by May 31. So that all arrangements should be completed before the pre-monsoon which will start on June 15.
DG Punjab has also reviewed the revenue recovery of all WASAs in detail and said that after the establishment of Punjab WASAs, the performance depends on revenue recovery. WASAs need to pay special attention to revenue recovery so that better water and sewerage facilities can be provided to the citizens. On this occasion, the Managing Director WASA, while briefing, said that Wasa has heavy machinery to deal with the flood situation, including suction machines, jetting machines and dewatering sets, which are in functional condition. A request has been made to the Punjab government for funds for cleaning the drains and the city's major 15 drains. As soon as the funds are approved, the work on cleaning them will start.
MD further said that Wasa Rawalpindi has completed the identification of low-lying areas in collaboration with the district administration and trained staff will be deployed at these points with heavy machinery during the rains. Like every year before the monsoon, a training exercise plan has been made with Rescue 1122 and other organisations, following which mock exercises will be conducted at Nullah Leh and Rawal Dam. Along with this, Wasa Rawalpindi will set up 5 monsoon camps across the city where staff will be present with heavy machinery 24 hours a day during the rains. A control room is being established at Wasa head office from where citywide monitoring as well as the process of registering citizens’ complaints will be included.
MD Wasa, while giving a briefing regarding revenue recovery, said that last year the target of revenue recovery was Rs1.57 billion, while the recovery made was Rs1.7 billion, which is more than the target. Similarly, the estimate of revenue recovery this year has been kept at Rs2.3 billion, while keeping in mind the current recovery position, this year too, not only the target of recovery should be met, but there will be a surplus recovery.
