RAWALPINDI: Punjab Secretary Excise and Taxation Ali Tahir visited Rawalpindi on Tuesday on the Punjab chief minister`s directives, to inspect arrangements being made by the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) for the heavy rainfall anticipated this week.

Wasa Managing Director (MD) Raja Shaukat Mehmood told Mr Tahir that the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a `heavy rainfall` warning for this week in Rawalpindi.

In order to cope with the anticipated flooding, the agency had cancelled its field staff`s leave and issued directives calling on employees to remain alert during Eidul Azha holidays.

Mehmood also spoke about the arrangements made for the monsoon season, and said that Wasa completed the dredging and desilting of the Leh Nullah and Rawalpindi`s sewerage system in April/ May 2015.

He said that machines, including jetting machines, sewer-cleaning rodding machines, de-watering sets and water boozers, are in working condition and have been deployed at four Wasa flood centres in Liaquat Bagh, Moti Mahal, Bagh Sardaran and Khayaban-i-Sir Syed.

Six rapid response teams have also been constituted to manage any emergency situations during floods.

Mehmood said more than 70 per cent of the flood water is coming from the Islamabad catchment area through four major tributaries in Leh Nullah and that 11 other nullahs from Rawal city terminate there.

Mr Tahir advised Wasa to coordinate with the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) and other departments.A Reporter