RAWALPINDI – Ahead of the monsoon season, the cleaning and desilting of Nullah Leh and 15 city drainage channels will be completed at a cost of Rs80 million. The operation is scheduled to begin on May 1 and will be finalised by June 15, officials announced.
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has initiated the contracting process for desilting Nullah Leh from IJP Road to Moti Mahal Chowk at an estimated cost of Rs50 million. Meanwhile, tenders have been invited for the cleaning of 15 urban drainage channels that discharge into Nullah Leh from within the city, with an estimated expenditure of Rs30 million.
Preventing Urban Flooding
Officials noted that failure to clean Nullah Leh and the drainage network ahead of the monsoon season typically results in flooding of low-lying areas across the city and cantonment. Desilting work involves increasing the depth of the nullah and removing obstructions to ensure the smooth flow of rainwater into the River Soan, preventing overflow during heavy rainfall. Similarly, uncleaned sewerage channels often cause water to spill into surrounding low-lying localities, leading to urban flooding.
WASA’s Comprehensive Plan
WASA Managing Director Azizullah Khan said that, as in previous years, a comprehensive plan has been prepared to complete the cleaning of Nullah Leh and all 15 drainage channels before the onset of monsoon. Heavy machinery will be deployed for the operation.
He further said that strict restrictions have been imposed on the dumping of construction material and solid waste into Nullah Leh and the drainage channels, warning that legal action will be taken against violators.
Emergency Preparedness
The WASA MD added that full-scale emergency preparedness exercises will also be conducted before the monsoon season. All machinery will be kept operational, field staff mobilised, a control room established, and flood relief camps set up as part of the agency’s preparedness measures.
Analysis: A Recurring Challenge
Rawalpindi’s flooding during monsoon season is a recurring challenge. Nullah Leh, the primary drainage channel for the city, often overflows during heavy rains, inundating low-lying areas and causing significant damage to property and disruption to daily life.
The Rs80 million desilting operation — with Rs50 million allocated for Nullah Leh and Rs30 million for 15 drainage channels — is a significant investment. However, the effectiveness of the operation depends not only on the desilting itself but also on preventing the dumping of solid waste and construction material into the channels.
The restrictions on dumping and the warning of legal action are important, but enforcement will be key. Without consistent enforcement, the nullah will quickly become clogged again.
The emergency preparedness measures — operational machinery, mobilised staff, a control room, and flood relief camps — are standard but essential. As the monsoon approaches, the focus will be on execution.
