Khanpur pipeline: RCB may complete water project soon

Gets permission from NHA to cut GT Road

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) will connect water pipeline across GT Road near Ayub Park under Khanpur water supply project this week as the board has received No Objection Certificate (NOC) from National Highway Authority (NHA) to cut the road to lay the pipeline.

The board had deposited demand notice worth nearly Rs800,000 issued by NHA for issuance of the NOC, said the RCB spokesman on Tuesday.

The pipeline will be laid to supply water to Chaklala Cantonment areas, he added.

He informed that 96 per cent work on Khanpur Dam water supply project has been completed and soon the entire project would be completed.

"Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments rely on the water supply from Khanpur Dam as underground water level is depleting fast," he added.

To a question, he said: "We have received NOC from Pakistan Railways and the payment has also been made for using its land for laying pipelines at four points."

He said water supply lines had also been laid in almost all areas of RCB, a year ago.

Six overhead water tanks with 200,000 gallons water storage capacity and underground water tanks having same capacity have been completed.

An overhead and underground water storage combined tank with 500,000 gallons capacity has also been completed while MS14742 pipeline and PE7800 water supply line laid under the project to supply water to the residents, he added.

Notices issued

RCB Land Branch under its on-going campaign against illegal construction has issued 38 notices to rules violators.

RCB spokesman said that the board accelerated its operation against illegal construction and notices were being issued to the rules violators.

Illegal buildings were also being sealed under the operation, he added.

The board issued notices to the rules violators in Marble Factory, Usmania Colony, Farooqabad, Masrial Road, Quaid-i -Azam Colony and Peshawar Road, Ahmadabad areas.

He said the land branch had also been directed to demolish the buildings being erected illegally particularly of those who did not get prior approval of their building plans.

Qaiser Mahmood further said, raids on the directive of Cantonment Executive Officer (CEO) Sibtain Raza were conducted by RCB Building Control Branch teams and the owners of the buildings and structures constructed illegally were issued notices.

The spokesman said that the operation would continue and warned the residents not to violate the rules else stern action would be taken against the violators and no relaxation would be given to anyone.

Meanwhile, RCB anti-encroachment team confiscated three truckload goods including handcarts, counters, tables and other items from Saddar, Chungi Number 22, Tench Bhatta and Masrial road.

Illegal banners and posters were also removed from different areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2018.