of Rains and Rawalpindi

FOCUS ARCHIVE:

Rawalpindi qualifies for the wettest place in Pakistan with a yearly rainfall average over 200mm. Each year this twin of the capitol is treated no less than a step sibling as residents in Islamabad enjoy warmth of thier homes, while those in Rawalpindi just a few miles away have to swim across their streets for daily work. The infamous Leh Nala claims many unfortunate souls, causes millions worth in damage to property and business, raises much hue and cry from all circles of life yet they seem to forget it soon enough and its the same old story next year as history repeats itself and Leh floods Rawalpindi in no time.

So is this lack of resources that hinders in way of a long term solution or the will of our representatives that plays havoc with unfortunate lives each year?!

Leh Nala (River)

Leh is a small river that flows across Islamabad and through major Economic and many residential areas of Rawalpindi. It serves as the only sewage outflow for the twin cities as only about 5% of Islamabad's sewage is treated and the rest is dumped straight into Leh. As for Rawalpindi, the only drain its ever known is Nala Leh.

The problem arises each year as monsoons and heavy torrential downpours flood the Leh which becomes quite narrow at places in downtown Rawalpindi. This cause overflow of water into streets and residential areas where the drains are just overwhelmed with the downpour and since the only drain in the twin cities is already overflowing, dozens of contributary smaller Nalas (rivers) flood their respective neighbourhoods. In total absence of an underground draining system in Rawalpindi, this is just too much to handle and streets turn to canals full of flood waters.

Second major threat the rising waters pose is the collapse of buildings along the river banks of Leh. Although building shelters along this dangerous bank is illegal, this does not stop many hundreds of people risking their lives and property. Each year some of these houses collaps as earth gives way to the flow of water yet they sprout up again in the wake of ongoing urbanisation in the country.

The regional development authority has failed to implement laws on residential constructions along the riverbank that threatens thousands of those living in such areas.

So why Rawalpindi? and Why not Islamabad? Well.. for major part of its journey Leh flows far aside Islamabad's residential sectors and then flows directly into and across major parts of Rawalpindi which causes much problems. The 600mm of torrential rains few weeks back fell in Islamabad and not in Rawalpindi yet it were the people in Rawalpindi that suffered the most owing to the river flowing across neighbourhoods throughout Rawalpindi.

SOLUTION

The World Bank and ADB have been calling on the previous governments to tackle this issue on a permanent basis. Several solutions to this problem are 'being considered' and apparently are still under consideration as the devastation continues in the city.

According to some sources the only solution is the Concrete Embankment of the Leh along the 5km strip in downtown Rawalpindi. Some analysts believe covering this drain might help reducing other problems associated with illegal dumping and sewage flow etc. Whatever the authorities might decide, we hope its not just too late for the millions living across Rawalpindi, whenever they decide to decide!

Filed on August 5th 2001.