Rs1.31b project aims to address Pindi’s water woes
The Finance Division said that the government may prefer to undertake Sukuk transactions as apart from being an important funding source, it would help in obtaining better pricing. Photo: file
Under the annual development programme (ADP) for the new financial year of 2023-204, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has prepared a project comprising 12 tube wells, six filtration plants, four underground water storage tanks and new drainage and sewerage systems to end the severe water crisis in the garrison city and its suburban union councils.
According to sources, the project will cost a total of around Rs1.31 billion and the Punjab government has expressed its assent to release the required funding to complete the project.
Sources said the funds will be released in the next month of August while the work on the project will begin in September.
The project calls for the installation of new tube wells in UCs 81, 80, and 82 as well as UCs 1, 4, 12 and 37. Additionally, tube wells will be installed at the district UCs of Chaklala, Dhok Munshi, and Rahmatabad at an estimated cost of Rs195.2 million.
Further, a new drainage and sewerage system will be installed in UCs 1 to 12 and UCs 37, 36, and 38 at an estimated cost of Rs190.9 million.
Furthermore, an underground water tank with a capacity of 50,000 gallons will be constructed in UCs 33, 34, and 39 at a cost of around Rs87.4 million. In addition to this, water tanks will be built in UCs 42 to 45 and 75 to 78 at a projected cost of Rs92.87 million.
Meanwhile, the cost of construction of water tanks in the old and densely populated suburban UCs of Rawalpindi including Lakhan, Mohri Ghazan, Dhamyal, Chak Jalal Din, and Garja will be Rs494.127 million and the new water supply schemes will cost Rs273.454 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2023.