Heritage trail planned for Pindi

Lanes of old bazaars to be converted to pedestrian-only areas

RAWALPINDI:

The T apex development body of the garrison city has planned to convert the winding lanes of old Rawalpindi’s centuries old bazaars into heritage trail reserved only for pedestrian.

Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) RDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza said that the authority plans to convert different markets streets into walking only areas.

The two-kilometre-long streets from historic Bhabhra Bazaar, Sarrafa Bazaar, Shalchan Chirag, Kalan Bazaar to Raja Bazaar will be converted into a proper walking street.

In this regard, a meeting of the special beautification committee has been called on Monday (today), the RDA chief said. RDA will also renovate the Sujan Singh Haveli while maintaining its antique structure.

The meeting will be attended by architects, urban heritage experts along with other stakeholders while it will give final approval for the newly planned walking street passing through different markets.

Under the project, all electricity and telephone poles will be removed from the route and wiring would be laid underground.

The removal of street lights is also part of the project and instead, the lights will be fixed on the walls of the buildings. The installation of tiles on the walkway will be done from Teli Mohalla, Murree Road to Dangi Khoi Chowk. The entry of motorcycles will be banned and only pedestrians will be allowed to walk in from a certain limit.

There will be electric vehicles at the entry and exit of the street for the elderly.

Rain water harvesting

RDA has made it mandatory for new construction projects to have a system of pipes and underground tank for saving the rainwater.

Saving rainwater for later use, known as rainwater harvesting, is the solution for mitigating the water shortage in urban centres said Murtaza.

RDA will not approve new commercial or residential projects without proper plan for rainwater management said Chairman, RDA Tariq Mehmood Murtaza.

He added that the authority has finalised rules to utilise precious rainwater. “Rawalpindi becomes second Rainwater Harvesting City in the Punjab,” RDA chairman said.

He said that after the implementation of RDA’s initiative with regards to rainwater harvesting, Rawalpindi will be the second city in the Punjab to introduce eco-friendly measures. Keeping in view the depleting fresh water resources, it has become most important to collect and use rainwater, he added.

Talking about mosques, he said that there was more consumption and need for water in mosques and in order to meet their needs it could be further enhanced and there would be a bigger model of rainwater harvesting.

The water coming out of the mosques was free of chemicals and ideal for irrigation, he said. The rainwater collected will be used for ablution and usage in wash rooms. The ablution water will be collected and used for watering plants and grass in the parks.

Rainwater harvesting is a new phenomenon for the people of Rawalpindi, but it is very useful for saving water for irrigation, gardening, at car wash stations and flush tanks, he said.

In short it could be used for anything except human consumption, for which there would be a need of filtration process.

According to RDA spokesman, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had showed willingness to fund the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) programme for using rainwater for ablution in mosques and the waste water coming from mosques for irrigation in large public parks.

The UN body will extend technical and financial assistance for using and recycling rainwater.

RDA had already started rainwater harvesting with the help of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA). The agency had extended a gift of Rs50 million for the project, he said.

With additional input by

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2020.