Expedite land acquisition for water supply scheme: minister
Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar on Thursday directed planning secretary to expedite land acquisition for the water supply scheme which aims to being water from Tarbela Dam to the twion cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar on Thursday held a video meeting to review the water supply project and the status of feasibility study.
PM’s Adviser for Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan, planning secretary, member infrastructure, representatives from the interior ministry, and other senior officials attended the online meeting.
MMP Consultants, the firm responsible for the study, briefed the participants on the bulk supply of water to the twin cities as well as the current status of the feasibility study of the project. The company was given seven months to compile the report and they began work in mid-October.
Under the project, Tarbela Dam is to meet the clean drinking water requirements of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Currently, the water demand in the twin cities is 440 million gallons per day (MGD). Almost half of which, 220MGD, is obtained from different sources while the Tarbela water supply project would fulfil the remaining requirement.
Planning Minister Umar directed the MMP to expedite the completion of the feasibility study while instructing the planning secretary to contact the provincial government regarding land acquisition. He said that matters pertaining to land acquisition should be finalised at the earliest to avoid delays in the commencement of work. He also directed CDA to ensure the induction of project management experts in the team.
Umar further directed the ministry’s secretary to seek clarification on issues related to water availability from Tarbela dam and shares of twin cities in water supply projects.
The project was conceived of in 2007-8, but could not move forward from feasibility because an earlier study became outdated, leading the CDA to hire a new consultant to expand the scope of work.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2021.