Telemetry system to be installed in Khanpur Dam canals

SAPM directs officials to devise a strategy to eliminate leakages in the water supply channels

ISLAMABAD: The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan Monday visited the Khanpur Dam and reviewed work on desilting canals of the dam which link to the Sangjani Water Treatment Plant. Awan, who also heads the newly-formed local government council, inspected work and directed the relevant authorities to expedite the cleaning work.

CDA Member Engineering, Khanpur Assistant Commissioner and officials from the Irrigation Departments of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) along with those from other relevant departments also accompanied him.

Awan said Islamabad needs around 256 million gallons of water daily ((MGD) to meet its needs but at the moment, it is receiving only 36MGD, a shortfall of 220MGD.

Lamenting that no work had been launched in the past to clean the canal or enhance water supply to the federal capital, he directed officials to devise a strategy to eliminate leakages in the water supply channels. He added that 34 MGD will be provided to residents of Islamabad from the Khanpur Dam.

Awan further said that a telemetry system will be installed in the canal to end leakages, while supply from Simly Dam to Islamabad has been enhanced to 8 MGD.

“Ghazi Barotha project has also been approved and 100 MGD each will be provided to the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” he said. The government has also launched work on a new reservoir to overcome the water crisis, he added.  

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2020.