Work launched on 3 more wetlands

CDA says water purified by the projects will be used for irrigation

ISLAMABAD:

The apex civic agency of the federal capital on Friday said that it has started work on three more wetland projects in the city.

After completing work on these projects, the authority plans to build another 10 wetlands. An official of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday said that the authority plans to build several wetlands to ensure that water draining into the Rawal Dam from various rivers and streams in the capital is purified from pollution and sewage. The streams, including Koral river, are particularly polluted by the sewerage dumped into it from populations living along its banks, particularly in the Bari Imam and Bhara Kahu areas of the city.

The official said that the sewerage department of the CDA, in collaboration with the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), had designed and developed wetlands in the city. At least three wetlands have been built in the city so far, including in Muslim Colony and Bari Imam area, the Nurpur Shahi area and Bani Gala. He said that tanks were constructed at these locations and water from the drain was diverted to the wetland ponds where plants were spud to control environmental pollution. These plants absorb pollution from the water and release it into the air. This method helps clear 70% to 80% of the water which is then put back into the drains to empty into the Rawal lake. The official shared that the entire project will cost around Rs1.5 million.

“The CDA has also submitted detailed reports on the matter to the Supreme Court,” he added, stating that in light of the success of this experiment and the apex court’s directives, the authority is working on three more wetland projects. The first of these wetlands will be set up in Sectors E-11 and F-11 to control sewage. It is expected that once complete, it will purify around a million gallons of water per day. The second project is being built on the Rose and Jasmine Garden canal. “After purification of water, it will be used for irrigating plants in Rose and Jasmine Garden,” he shared. The third wetland is being built in Saidpur. He said that the projects will be completed in a month and a half. They are being developed as per the directions of the Supreme Court in collaboratio