The Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment boards have requested Rs600 million in funding from the federal government's Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the replacement of two pumping stations at the Sangjani Water Filtration Plant, which is part of the Khanpur Dam water supply project.
These pumping stations are crucial in supplying 11 million gallons of water daily to the cantonments.
According to sources, the two pumping stations, which were installed at the Sangjani Water Filtration Plant for water supply to Rawalpindi, have been in operation for over 25 years, well past their 15-year lifespan.
As a result, the stations' performance has been significantly impacted, and the maintenance costs have been rising steadily.
This increasing financial burden is being borne by the Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment boards.
The water supply to Rawalpindi faces further challenges, with filtration difficulties arising from the 12-kilometre-long open water channel that brings water from the Khanpur Dam to the Sangjani Water Filtration Plant.
Once treated, 13 million gallons of water is supplied to Islamabad's Capital Development Authority (CDA), 6 million gallons daily to Rawalpindi's Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), and 11 million gallons daily to the cantonments.
However, the worst water supply situation is in the areas under the Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment boards, where a decline in tube well water output, combined with the rising population and increasing demand for water, has led to a shortage of water supply.
Citizens are facing significant challenges due to the insufficient daily water supply.
Currently, projects are underway at the Chehan Dam and Dadochhich Dam, which are expected to provide an additional 50 million gallons of water daily to Rawalpindi and its surrounding areas in the future.
However, there are no long-term projects under consideration for improving water supply to the Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonments.
As a result, residents in these areas, unable to get adequate water from the public supply system, have been forced to dig bore wells or buy water from tankers at their own expense.
Authorities have called for a comprehensive, long-term plan to ensure sustainable water supply for the growing population of Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments.
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