WASA completes 90 per cent work on dredging of Nullah Leh

Rawalpindi

The Water and Sewerage Agency (Wasa) has completed 90 per cent work on dredging and disilting of Nullah Leh and the remaining work on it would be completed by mid of June this year.

Official spokesman to Wasa, Umar Farooq told The News that in connection with the ongoing work on dredging of Leh, Managing Director, Raja Shaukat Mahmood visited different sections of Leh on Monday to inspect the scope of working by the concerned staff. The sites visited by the managing director included New Katarian, Dhok Naju, Dhok Hassu, Dhok Ratta, Gawalmandi.

During his visit the concerned in-charge briefed Raja Shaukat about the work being carried on there. The managing director was told that while carrying out work on dredging the cross sections of Leh have been deepened by 450 inches in order to make the smooth flow of water during Monsoon rains this season. Though work on all channels connecting with the main channel including from New Katarian, Dhok Naju, Dhok Hassu, Akhwadi, Khayaban e Sir Syed have been finished while the remaining work on Leh dredging at Dhok Ratta and Gawalmandi channels would be completed within next 10 days .

On the spots visited by managing director he issued necessary directions including removal of wastage beneath the bridge sections to ensure smooth flow of water during rains.

Replying to a question, Umar Farooq told that the work on dredging of Leh was commenced in April this year at a total cost of Rs25 millions which was allocated by the Punjab government. He said that in view of the work being carried out on dredging there is no danger of flooding in Nulla Leh even this year. Over the years Wasa with its efforts have been able to check the problem of overflowing of rain water in main channels during Monsoon seasons. Despite this fact, Wasa on the directions of Managing Director would also set up flood alarming centres besides complaints cells in different areas to cope with the disaster like situations during heavy rains in Monsoon season. All effective and practical measures have been adopted to avert the disaster of floods by Leh in Monsoon season even this year.

Similarly, the spokesman told that the Managing Director during his visits to certain sites of Leh channels also directed for improving the situation of sewerage lines in Rawalpindi city by the end of the current month. Moreover, the removal of encroachments on both banks of main channels of Leh is also being carried out in order to ascertain the flow of rain water smoothly, he said.