Wasa told to form special force to check dumping into Leh Nullah

RAWALPINDI: Punjab Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Bilal Yasin on Saturday asked the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to form a special force to monitor and check dumping of solid waste and construction material into Leh Nullah. He stated this while reviewing arrangements to avoid flooding in the garrison city. The meeting reviewed measures for cleaning Leh Nullah, removing encroachments, improving the drainage system, preventing flooding and enhancing civic facilities around the nullah. Members of the Provincial Assembly, Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi and officers of relevant departments attended the meeting. The minister directed that a special force be constituted for the nine-kilometre densely populated stretch of Leh Nullah with an effective patrolling system to ensure that garbage is not dumped into the nullah. He said that Leh Nullah is of vital importance to Rawalpindi and constitutes a key component of the city's drainage system. All concerned departments must work in a coordinated manner for its cleaning, rehabilitation and protection. He made it clear that dumping of garbage and illegal construction along Leh Nullah after its desilting would not be allowed under any circumstances. A cleaning operation should continue on a permanent basis. He stressed the need to create public awareness and take action against violators in accordance with the law. The minister directed that a zero-tolerance policy against encroachments along Leh Nullah be strictly implemented so that the nullah does not fall victim to garbage and encroachments again. To make the cleanliness system around Leh Nullah more effective, a permanent monitoring mechanism should be established with the cooperation of local residents, the business community and civil society. Commissioner Salman Ghani, in his briefing, said monitoring of various locations along Leh Nullah through Safe City cameras would be started. The system would help identify individuals and vehicles involved in dumping waste into the nullah, enabling immediate legal action against them, he said. He added that measures would also be taken to establish a special monitoring and control room for Leh Nullah and to employ modern technology for flash-flood monitoring and early warning alerts. The meeting emphasised seeking recommendations from technical and chemical engineering experts to reduce the risks associated with water flow and flash flooding in Leh Nullah. The commissioner also directed that the water flow, silt, soil and other obstructions in Leh Nullah be scientifically assessed and effective measures adopted to minimise the risks of sudden flooding and flash floods. Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2026