Chahan Dam project cost surges

Revised PC-1 seeks Rs8.10 billion to start work on stalled water supply project

RAWALPINDI:

The cost of Chahan Dam water supply project has surged to over Rs8 billion after the Punjab government failed to release funds.

A revised project concept (PC-1) of the water supply project has been sent to the Planning and Development (P&D) Department Punjab seeking funds worth Rs8.10 billion.

In 2018, the original PC-1 had estimated the original cost of the project at Rs5.50 billion, which could further escalate to Rs10 billion given the rising value of the dollar against the Pakistani currency.

Earlier, the design of Chahan Dam was altered to ensure full pressure water supply to six densely populated union councils (UCs) falling within the jurisdiction of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB).

Under the new design, the route of distribution lines had been changed to supply water at full pressure and prevent water theft and after the design alteration and the recent increase in the price of construction material, the original cost had increased to Rs1 billion.

With the completion of the project, 6 million gallons of water per day will be supplied to the six densely populated union councils.

A project director of the project has been appointed and a grant of Rs800 million in grant had initially been released.

Under the new design, the site of the pumping station has been changed and brought closer to the dam while the route of water pipelines from the pumping station and filtration plants has also been altered to prevent water theft along the way.

Under the new design, water supply lines will pass along the main road so that the water theft could be identified. The pipelines will supply water from underground and overhead tanks to union councils Lakhan, Girja-I, Girja-II, Chak Jalaluddin, Mohri Ghazni and Dhamyal.

Sources said that work on the project will start in May 2022 and be completed in two years.

The six densely populated union councils face severe water shortages. After the completion of work on the project, the availability of six million gallons of water per day to these six settlements will solve the chronic issue permanently.

According to the sources, the water daily supply from the Chahan Dam will be further enhanced by expanding the network.

The six densely populated union councils falling in the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board have been facing irregular water supply and the residents have been facing severe water shortages.

According to sources, the availability of six million gallons of water per day in the presence of a partial water supply system already in place in these six settlements will solve the water problem in these areas permanently.

According to sources, with the new design, where the project has been made technically more stable and efficient, water will now be able to reach its destination with significant pressure.

According to Chahan Dam Project Director Saleem Ashraf, nitty-gritty details of hiring a consultant for the project, the establishment of the project management unit and completion of the land acquisition were being finalised to start work on the project at the earliest.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2022.