WASA seeks Rs51.85b for uplift projects

Major chunk to be spent on new schemes

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has prepared the annual development programme (ADP) of Rs51.85 billion for the upcoming fiscal year and sent to the Punjab government for approval.

The programme includes the project of water supply from the Indus River to the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and new development schemes of water supply for the current year and for the next year.

According to the ADP, Rs41.5 billion will be spent on the development schemes proposed for the next year.

Among the new schemes, Rs1.2 billion will be spent on the land acquisition of the Dadocha Dam Water Supply Project and Rs2.3 billion will be spent on the first phase of bringing water from the Indus River to Ghazi Barotha.

The cost of the project will be shared between the Capital Development Authority (CDA), WASA and the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board.

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2028.

In other development schemes, Rs900 million has been earmarked on the water supply scheme of union councils (UCs) 76, 77, 78. Another Rs80 million has been apportioned for water supply pipelines of UCs 75, 77, 78. The water supply scheme of UC 80,81,82 will cost Rs80 million.

WASA plans also includes Rs1.43 billion for the first phase of four sewage treatment plants on Rawal Lake. This project is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Meawhile, another Rs200 million will be spent on water supply schemes for other colonies including Kehkashan Colony. Half a billion rupees has been earmarked for machinery for water supply and sewerage schmes.

A project for water supply from Khanpur Dam to underground water storage tanks in UCs 6, 7 and 9 will cost Rs75 million.

In other projects, Rs392 million will be spent on New Chakra drainage system, Rs255 million on drainage system of Dhaman Syedan, Rs350 million on water supply system of Girja, Rs215 million on improvement of water supply scheme of Kalyal, and another Rs250 million on improvement of drainage system of UC Kalyal.

For improvement of sewerage and drainage of UCs 5-12, Rs 195 million has been earmarked, while the same amount has been set aside for the sewerage in Asghar Mall Scheme.

The budget includes Rs100 million for improvement and maintenance of sewerage in UCs 16 and 17.

On-going schemes

Meanwhile, the remaining Rs10.3 billion will be spent on ongoing development schemes.

In these schemes, an amount of more than Rs9 billion has been set aside for the Chahan Dam Water Supply Project.

Another Rs87 million would be used for the construction of a 200,000-gallon underground water tank in UC 4. Another Rs87 million has been set aside for another underground water storage tank, albeit of 50,000 gallons, in UC 1.

The document includes Rs76 million on construction of overhead water tanks in UC 1 and 2, and Rs76 million on sewerage and water supply scheme in UCs 42, 43, 45, 75 and 77.

Tubewells will be constructed in UCs 80 and 82 for Rs691 million, while Rs494 million would be spent on water supply schemes in UCs Lakhan, Mohri Ghazan and Dhamyal. The UCs in Chak Jalaldin, Girja and Mohri Gazan will get Rs273 million for sewerage lines.

WASA has sought Rs190 million for sewage in UCs 1 to 12, 36, 37 and 38.

Sewage improvement has also been planned for Satellite Town.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2023.