ADB okays two water projects for Pindi

Approves Rs40b to fund schemes as city runs dry

RAWALPINDI:

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given the green light to two mega water projects aimed at meeting the increasing water demand in Rawalpindi.

To tackle the urgent situation caused by the malfunctioning of four tube wells in Union Councils (UC) 21 and 22, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has initiated an emergency water supply project. This project involves the installation of a new pipeline from Dhoke Kala Khan to facilitate immediate water delivery, with an expected completion time of one week.

Additionally, as part of a comprehensive effort to enhance water supply, an outdated cemented pipeline from Rawal Dam will be replaced with a new 10-kilometre steel pipeline of reduced diameter. Furthermore, the Chahan Dam will be utilised to supply water to Rawalpindi city.

The ADB will contribute Rs40 billion to fund both of these critical projects.

Tenders for these projects are scheduled for release at the end of this month.

According to official sources, work on both initiatives is set to commence by the end of December, following the conclusion of the tendering process in October or November.

Rawalpindi’s daily water requirements stand at 68 million gallons, while the current supply from tube wells at Rawal Dam and Khanpur Dam only amounts to 51 million gallons.

Consequently, the city faces a daily water deficit of 17 million gallons.

To address this shortfall, WASA will secure an additional five million gallons of water daily by installing a 10-kilometre steel pipeline from Rawal Dam to Rawalpindi, replacing the old and deteriorated cemented pipeline. Simultaneously, the Chahan Dam project was expected to provide 12 million gallons of water per day.

Together, these measures will cover the daily water deficit of 17 million gallons.

Managing Director Tanveer Ahmed said Wasa had conducted an extensive visit to the UCs in question. He said four out of the seven tube wells located there were non-functional and had to be shut down. This led to a 50 per cent reduction in the water supply to the affected areas, he said.

To remedy the situation, Wasa approved the installation of a new pipeline, up to 700 feet in length, from Dhoke Kala Khan to Rawal Dam. Construction was underway and the pipeline was expected to be operational within a week.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2023.