The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) on Friday launched “Monsoon Action Plan 2011” to cope up with the hardships of the traditional rainy spell. This is the first time that a plan has come into action fifteen days prior to the commencement of the monsoon season which usually sets in around July 1.
Standard operative procedures (SOPs) for the plan have been laid down and workability of all areas has been analyzed, WASA Deputy Managing Director (Operation) told Pakistan Today. He said that WASA has made all operational arrangements to ensure prompt disposal of rainwater.
He said that WASA would monitor 30 points where water collects during the monsoons. They include Lakshmi Chowk, Thorton Road, Empress Road , Cooper Road, Bashir Sons, General Post Office, Kashmir Road, Rehman Gallian, Plaza Cinema, Nabah road, Firdous market, Chuburji, Lake road, Ek Moria Pull, Do Moria Pull, Raheem Road, Aziz Road, Umer Din Road, Chowk Nakhuda, Sheran Wala Gate, Outside Bhatti Gate, Baghchi Sathan, Scheme More AIT, Bahwal Pur Road, Poonch Road near Multan Road, Lytton Road, Plaza Cinema, Church Road and GPO.
The WASA has carried out dredging operations in nine primary drains (79.33 km long), including Sukh Nehr Drain, Choota Ravi Drain, Cantonment Drain, Sattu Katla Drain, Iqbal Town Drain, Shahdara Drain and Lakshami Drain, 70 secondary drains (119.66 km long), and 67 drains (114.67 km long) in the city.
As much as 6,300 km long sewers, including trunk sewers and lateral (streets) sewers, have been emptied out from mounds of silt to allow smooth flow of rainwater. WASA has also enhanced the capacity of 12 disposal stations and 88 lift stations to discharge rainwater at the earliest. Suction machines have been deployed at 20 areas including Bhati Gate, Sheranwala Gate, Ek Moria Pul, Lakshami Chowk, Hjwari CHowk Chuburji, Mozang Chungi, Firdous Market, Shama CHowk, Shimla Hill, Schme More, Millat Road, Ichhra, near BISE building, Usman Block, Link Road, B Block Tajpura, Plaza Cinema, Gari Shahu and Empress Road.
As many as, 543 de-watering sets will be installed and made operational before the launch of the action plan. In order to look after the drains and to meet the emergency requirements in case of a drain breach, around 33 emergency centers will be established, who will start functioning with effect from June 15 and will continue until September 15.
The WASA has also established Monsoon Control Room in its head office. Representatives of TMA, SWM, TEPA, Traffic Police and LESCO are running the control room. It has constant liaison with Met office regarding rain forecasts.
