Potable water scheme: Ten years on, fate of Rs50b project still undecided

‘Serious water shortage soon’ if project delayed any longer.

ISLAMABAD:

It has been ten years since a proposal was prepared to link Islamabad to Ghazi Barotha Dam, to meet the capital’s increasing water demands.

The proposal was sent to the Cabinet Division for final approval some months back, said Water and Management Director General Sanaullah Aman, but is still awaiting final approval. Aman also warned of “serious water shortage” in the capital soon if the project continues to be delayed.

The initial cost for the project was estimated to be Rs35 billion, which has now swelled up to Rs50 billion due to inflation. The proposal calls for new water lines from Ghazi Barotha Dam to supply drinking water to the capital city.

Aman said that water supply lines and sewerage system should be changed after every 10 years — the existing network of pipes in Islamabad is almost 40 years old.

More than 60% of drinking water is wasted in the city due to leaking pipes and sewage water mixing into potable, he added.

A Capital Development Authority (CDA) official said the authority is facing an annual deficit of Rs900 million each year due to these leaking pipes.

He added that CDA had sent a proposal worth Rs10 billion to have the pipes replaced, but the Cabinet Division is yet to approve the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2012.