Funding crisis hampers drain desilting | The Express Tribune

RAWALPINDI:

A financial crisis has affected pre-monsoon desilting and widening of the 20-kilometre Nullah Leh and 13 small and large storm drains, as the Punjab Finance Department released only Rs60 million instead of the Rs140 million sought for the work.

According to sources, WASA, the Municipal Corporation, cantonment boards and the district council had sought Rs80 million for desilting, widening, removal of construction debris and transportation of waste from Nullah Leh, and Rs60 million for 13 storm drains. However, following cuts in the provincial development budget, only Rs30 million each was released for the two projects.

As a result, the authorities failed to complete the desilting and widening work. Construction debris and silt removed from Nullah Leh could not be transported outside the city due to a lack of transport funds and was washed back into the drains during the first three monsoon rains.

Heavy machinery could not reach narrow areas, while the required equipment could not be hired because of limited funds.

Despite the chief minister’s directives, WASA, the Municipal Corporation, cantonment boards and the district council have also yet to install iron and cement covers and 100-kilogram capacity safety grilles on open manholes.

Sources said desilting is still underway but limited funding has prevented effective completion of the work, increasing fears of flooding in low-lying areas during further heavy monsoon rains.

Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir has directed WASA and the Municipal Corporation to expedite desilting work and ordered the immediate installation of covers and safety grilles on open manholes. He also directed Rescue 1122 and Civil Defence teams to move to low-lying areas as soon as rainfall begins. Sources said the safety grilles could not be manufactured according to SOPs because of a lack of funds.