Galiyat to treat 95% hotel wastewater

ABBOTTABAD:

Six underground wastewater treatment plants costing Rs450 million are being constructed in Galiyat to treat up to 95 per cent of wastewater discharged by hotels, the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) has said.

The authority has also clarified that the under-construction treatment plant in Ayubia poses no threat to the Ayubia parking area and is not being built near the mosque, dismissing concerns over the project's location.

In a statement, a GDA spokesperson said the treatment plants were being established in six major towns of Galiyat to protect the region's natural environment, forests and water springs from pollution.

He said the facilities would treat hotel wastewater through multiple stages, including ABR septic tanks and disinfection tanks, enabling up to 95 per cent treatment before the water was safely discharged.

The spokesperson said untreated wastewater from hotels had previously been released into open areas and forests, posing a serious threat to natural springs, the environment and the local ecosystem. The new facilities would help prevent pollution and safeguard the region's natural resources.

He said such environmental projects were essential for a sensitive tourist destination like Galiyat, adding that the initiative would promote sustainable tourism, improve environmental conditions and provide visitors with a cleaner and healthier atmosphere.

The GDA spokesperson reaffirmed the authority's commitment to preserving Galiyat's natural beauty, forests and water resources through environmentally sustainable development projects for future generations.