Chahan Dam gets fresh lease of life

RAWALPINDI:

The contract for Lots 2 and 3 of the Asian Development Bank-funded Chahan Dam Water Supply Project, which remained embroiled in controversy for a year, has been awarded to construction firm ZKB at a cost of Rs20.4 billion.

The firm has established its site and camp offices and started the physical survey. Upon completion of the project in June 2028, an additional 12 million gallons of water per day will be available.

Meanwhile, the ongoing work on Lots 1 and 4 is scheduled for completion by June 2027, providing another five million gallons of water daily.

According to sources, work on Lots 1 and 4, worth Rs13.55 billion, has been underway for the past year. Its completion in June 2027 will make an additional five million gallons of water per day available from Rawal and Khanpur dams for Rawalpindi's inner city and the Khayaban-i-Sir Syed area.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister's Inspection Team had cancelled the contract for Lots 2 and 3 over alleged lack of transparency. Following a fresh tendering process, the contract has now been awarded to ZKB.

The construction firm is expected to complete the ongoing physical survey within a month. Site and camp offices have already been established.