- Advertisement -
SIALKOT, Aug 04 (APP):Provincial Minister for Local Government Punjab Mian Zeeshan Rafique conducted an on-site review of the rainwater drainage arrangements in Sialkot.
He was accompanied by Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) and the Deputy Commissioner. The inspection covered various areas including Railway Road, Dara Araian, Abbott Road, Church Road, Kutchehry Road, and Allama Iqbal Chowk.
During the visit, Mian Zeeshan Rafique, alongside DC Muhammad Zulqarnain and MPAs Muhammad Manshaullah Butt, Faisal Ikram Chaudhary, and Chaudhry Naveed Ashraf, assessed the operations of the Solid Waste Management Company (SWMC) Sialkot in handling rainwater drainage.
The minister highlighted that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was closely monitoring the rainwater drainage operations across districts throughout the monsoon season. He noted that as per the chief minister’s directives, municipal corporations, district councils, and divisional headquarters had established emergency rain camps under WASA’s supervision. These camps are equipped with sanitation staff and machinery, ensuring that drainage operations commence promptly with the onset of rain. This proactive approach has significantly reduced the duration of rainwater accumulation in low-lying areas, allowing for drainage within a few hours.
The DC reported that the district emergency control rooms operate 24/7. He noted that the solid waste management company continues to clean drains throughout the monsoon season, with all disposal stations fully operational and equipped with standby generators. On August 4, from 12:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the city experienced 58mm rainfall, during which sanitation personnel were actively deployed. Similar vigilance is maintained across other tehsils in the Sialkot district.
The deputy commissioner further informed that rivers and rainwater drains in Sialkot were under continuous monitoring. Residents in flood-prone areas are kept informed, and all necessary measures have been implemented to address any potential emergencies.
Regarding river flow measurements, the recorded figures were as follows: Chenab River upstream at Marala Headworks, 86,839 cusecs; Jammu Tawi, 6,038 cusecs; Manawar Tawi, 1,225 cusecs; Nullah Daik, 660 cusecs; Nullah Aik, 499 cusecs, Nullah Pulkho, 713 cusecs; and Nullah Bhed, 260 cusecs.