Lahore (Pakistan): Clearing of encroachments from the Ravi riverbed has delayed the second phase of a vital flood-protection project, raising fears of severe damage if the monsoon arrives early, Dawn reported.
Officials at the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda) say phase-2 embankment construction cannot begin while temporary and permanent settlements remain within the riverbed. A Ruda spokesperson said the authority is ready to start work as soon as the district administration clears the area, but repeated reminders in official meetings have not resolved the issue. “We cannot proceed with construction while a large number of encroachments still exist,” the spokesperson told Dawn.
Last year’s floods caused widespread destruction across Punjab. In Lahore, flash floods peaking near 220,000 cusecs inundated riverbed settlements, prompting mass evacuations and damage to homes and infrastructure; many residents stayed in temporary relief camps for days.
Ruda’s jurisdiction runs from six kilometres downstream of the Ravi Syphon to the Hudiara drain at Mohlanwal. Phase-1 — a 14.6 km stretch — is almost 80% complete and features 20-foot-high embankments designed to handle up to 350,000 cusecs. Phase-2, roughly 9 km between the railway bridge and the M2 bridge, remains stalled because of dense settlements, some predating Ruda and holding utility connections and legal property papers. Ruda says it inherited these long-standing settlements and lacks authority to remove them, though it has acted to stop new illegal construction.
Work on phase-3 has begun, with about 20% completed in some sections, including protective measures for nearby localities and a theme park.
Experts warn of elevated flood risk this year. Civil engineer and former Lahore Development Authority chief Habibul Haq Randhawa said El Niño could bring an early monsoon as soon as May with intense rainfall into June. He stressed that illegal construction in the riverbed was a major cause of past flood damage and urged removal of encroachments to restore the river’s natural channels. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
