Govt slashes Nullah Leh desilting budget by Rs5m.

RAWALPINDI -- With the twin cities already struggling with a flood-like situation during the recent spell of rains, the provincial government has taken the surprising decision of slashing funds for de-silting the massive storm drain in Rawalpindi, the Nullah Leh, by Rs5 million. The Punjab government has asked the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to complete the task in a meagre Rs10 million.

Sources say that Wasa had demanded Rs15 million from the provincial government to complete the annual de-silting and cleaning exercise. However, the cash-strapped provincial finance department only approved Rs10 million for the purpose.

Further, sources said that Wasa has identified the points along Nullah Leh which require the most cleaning effort. Wasa had assured that the task will be completed before the monsoon season.

But owing to a shortage of funds, the waste management company has yet to begin work on cleaning 11 drains from...