Housing Schemes Directed To Establish Flood Control Rooms Amid Rain Forecast

Islamabad: The district administration of the capital city has formally directed all the Housing Societies To Establish Control Rooms and arrange necessary equipment in the wake of the expected rain spell starting on Tuesday. Notification No 14(1)-HC(G)/2022-48 issued by the district administration states that all the housing societies and schemes are directed to arrange control rooms, water pumping equipment, and place monitoring teams at suitable points before the start of the upcoming rain spell. It states, “In order to avoid untoward situation during the expected next spell of rains in the district Islamabad, you are hereby directed to establish flood control rooms, arrange water pumping equipment, and place monitoring teams near vulnerable areas in your respective jurisdiction. ”The notice has further directed that “All nullahs, river right of way passing from the area of your project must be cleared from any encroachment/debris/garbage. Sizeable labor force must be available at the disposal of the flood control room of every housing society to meet any eventuality.” It warns, “In case of non-compliance, strict legal action shall be initiated against the management of housing society in accordance with the law.”

It is to be mentioned here that Islamabad was planned to be the capital city in 1960 and it was decided that the natural beauty and environment of the city would be protected at every cost. Apart from the construction of plazas in the Blue area and a small portion of the city in I-9 reserved for the minor industry, there was no plan for large-scale Constructions activities and Major Developments In Islamabad. . But later on, the unattended construction activities in the capital city have really marred the vision and plan of the capital. Heavy industrial units, construction activities, business centers, and institutions resulted in an upsurge in demand for housing and residence in the federal metropolis that consequently gave birth to mushrooming housing societies. The housing societies have disturbed altogether the ecological balance of the capital. Now we are facing the issues of climate change, pollution, urban floods, environmental decay, and the ever-growing traffic congestion in the city.

It is pertinent to mention here that owing to the last year's rains resulted in an urban flood in several areas of the capital city causing heavy damages including the killing of a mother and her son the ICT administration is vigilant about any unexpected situation. The MET Department has issued a warning of a heavy rain spell to start this week whereby urging the concerned departments to remain alert so as to prevent any possible loss to public property in general and to their lives in particular. The Deputy Commissioner Islamabad said that the ICT administration has already established a control room, with dedicated rescue teams, equipment, and machinery to deal with any kind of emergency situation.