Pindi to have 105 water filtration plants

EPA declares Aab Pak project environment-friendly

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab Environment Protection Department has granted approval for the issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the installation of 105 new water filtration and treatment plants in rural areas of the Rawalpindi division.

According to official sources, the "Aab Pak" project has been initiated by the Punjab government.

The project, costing Rs250 million, aims to provide clean water to rural areas, with the committee of environmental experts declaring the proposed projects environmentally friendly following extensive discussions during a public hearing.

Initiated during the tenure of former Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, the Aab Pak project was developed by the Punjab Aab Pak Authority to ensure the provision of clean water to villages. A public hearing focused on the environmental impact of installing 105 water filtration plants in Rawalpindi division's four districts – Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, and Chakwal – was conducted in the district council hall. Attendees included citizens from the respective districts, university students, professors, and district administration officials.

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Rawalpindi Environment Protection Department Senior Research Officer Muhammad Amin Baig led the public hearing, while Hamad Fazal, senior officer of Aab Pak, provided details about the project. The majority of the proposed water filtration plants include 33 for rural areas in the Rawalpindi district, 34 in the Chakwal district, and 19 each in Jhelum and Attock districts. Each major village is slated to have its own water filtration plant.

Citizens Ahmed Khan and Fayyaz Mehmood praised the water filtration plant project, expressing confidence that it will significantly improve access to clean water in villages.

Hamad Fazal assured that all filtration plants are eco-friendly, posing no threat of environmental pollution.

Once the NOC is issued by the Environment Protection Department post-public hearing, the project is set to commence immediately, with the water filtration plants expected to be operational within three months.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2023.