Ministry seeks Rs26.37bn for 10bn tree programme

CDA to construct three new dams to ensure water supply to Islamabad

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Climate Change has demanded an allocation of Rs26.37 billion in the next financial year for the 10 billion tree programme.

The ministry submitted the budget proposals to the National Assembly and Senate Standing Committees on Climate Change for approval. According to the budget proposals, the ministry has proposed to allocate Rs26.42 billion for three projects including the 10 billion tree project.

Separate meetings of the National Assembly and Senate committees on climate change were held on Monday.

In both the meetings, ministry officials presented budget proposals under the PSDP. The ministry has sought Rs23.4 million for the Water Quality Monitoring and SDG-6 and Rs20.6 million for Climate Resilience Urban Human Settlement Unit.

Read: PM tells citizens to plant five trees per family

Ministry officials informed both the committees that 50 per cent of the budget for the 10 billion tree project has been released so far and almost all the funds have been spent.

Meanwhile, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has prepared a plan for the construction of three new dams to ensure water supply in Islamabad.

 In addition, CDA has also started supplying 2 million gallons of water daily from Rawal Dam to meet the water needs of the city, while 17 out of the 20 inactive tube wells in the city wells have been restored. Water losses have also been substantially eliminated through the repair and replacement of rusty and faulty pipelines.

A CDA member informed the Senate Committee on Climate Change that the CDA plans to build three new dams to ensure water supply within the city. The PC-I has been approved for constructing dams.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2022.