The federal capital of Pakistan faces serious threats this monsoon. The illegal construction along the banks of streams in different sectors of Islamabad could lead to some serious mishaps. CDA has been accused of negligence in this regard as so far no action has been taken against the shops and houses constructed along the monsoon waterways and drainages. What’s more serious is that these drains are blocked because of piles of garbage settled at various sections of these waterways.
According to reports, sector F-6, F-7/4, G-7/1-2-3 and G-8/1 are more at risks of experiencing flood like situation and other mishaps as the illegal structures are erected along the streams passing from here. It is believed that the drainage capacity of the waterways has been reduced to half because the dwellers of these encroachments fearlessly throw garbage in the streams. Since these drains are meant to ensure the free flow of monsoon water in the capital, the blockage can cause serious mishaps in the form of life and property loss.
In this regard, CDA is not only accused of deadly negligence but is also adding fuel to the fire by dumping the city’s waste in these drains to save resources and fuel. There is ample proof that the truck drivers of CDA’s sanitation department have been deliberately doing this hideous work.
Farkhand Iqbal, the Chairman CDA, earlier ordered the occupants of these illegal structures to demolish their structures or CDA will be forced to take action against them. The results of this warning have been obvious and no one demolished or even abandoned these illegal encroachments.
To cope up with an emergency, CDA has set up a flood relief cell at the headquarters of Fire Brigade’s Emergency and Disaster Management Directorate. Rawal Khan Matela, the Director General Civic Management, is the chief coordinator of this relief cell. To cope with an emerging situation in a better manner, CDA has taken the services of Enforcement, Maintenance, MP, Municipal Administration, E&M, Capital Hospital’s Emergency, and Planning Wing.
Instead of ensuring means to deal with the mishaps, we should be focused at avoiding the mishaps. Therefore, to keep Islamabad and its residents safe from the expected high downpour this monsoon, the encroachments done along the drains should be demolished as quickly as possible and at the same time ensure the free flow of monsoon water.
