Trail 5 stream comes to life after five years
The monsoon rains caused the dead stream along Trail 5 to flow again.
ISLAMABAD:
After the recent monsoon rains, a dead stream along Trail 5 - one of the famous hiking tracks of the capital - is flowing again, adding to the scenic beauty of the hiking track.
“The stream has come to life after five years,” said Senior Park Manager Shadmina Khan of Himalayan Wildlife Foundation (HWF), an NGO working for the conservation of wildlife and natural resources. Talking to the Express Tribune, she said due to the dry spell, the stream barely had enough water flow and remained unnoticed. However, after the monsoon rains, the stream is overflowing and turns into a beautiful reservoir further downstream. Water is flowing over the stream’s waterbed and is covering parts of the trail, while some benches have also been washed away, she said.
Director HWF Waqar Zakaria said the recharged water flow in the stream is aiding the natural habitat of the area and nourishing vegetation. “I have been walking on this trail for the past five years, but I have never seen such a large number of visitors here,” he said. Although this will not last as the water level in the stream will decrease by the end of September or mid-October, he added.
Talking to the Express Tribune, Mubashir Khan, a regular hiker of Trail 5 said: “Before I would come here for hiking, but seeing the beautiful aqua green pond and the flowing water, I am tempted to swim instead.” It is good to have a free of charge swimming facility in the capital, he said.
Mehmood Khawaja, who lives opposite the hiking trail, said, “Since the stream has rejuvenated, I love to spend my evenings here along with my family. The sound of the flowing water is refreshing in summers,” she said.
Shadmina Khan, the Senior Park Manager at HWF, said the stream water is clean and fit for drinking after minor filtration. Unfortunately, the water is going down the sewage line. Director Water Management of Capital Development Authority (CDA) Shahid Sohail said the authority cannot utilise the water because the stream is temporary and there is no place where this water can be stored in such a large quantity. “The authority is planning to set up rain harvesting points on the stream to conserve water in the future,” said Sohail. He said people living in the surrounding areas are consuming this water.
Asif Shuja, Director General Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), said that soon a team will be constituted to inspect the water and its usability for drinking purposes.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2010.
After the recent monsoon rains, a dead stream along Trail 5 - one of the famous hiking tracks of the capital - is flowing again, adding to the scenic beauty of the hiking track.
“The stream has come to life after five years,” said Senior Park Manager Shadmina Khan of Himalayan Wildlife Foundation (HWF), an NGO working for the conservation of wildlife and natural resources. Talking to the Express Tribune, she said due to the dry spell, the stream barely had enough water flow and remained unnoticed. However, after the monsoon rains, the stream is overflowing and turns into a beautiful reservoir further downstream. Water is flowing over the stream’s waterbed and is covering parts of the trail, while some benches have also been washed away, she said.
Director HWF Waqar Zakaria said the recharged water flow in the stream is aiding the natural habitat of the area and nourishing vegetation. “I have been walking on this trail for the past five years, but I have never seen such a large number of visitors here,” he said. Although this will not last as the water level in the stream will decrease by the end of September or mid-October, he added.
Talking to the Express Tribune, Mubashir Khan, a regular hiker of Trail 5 said: “Before I would come here for hiking, but seeing the beautiful aqua green pond and the flowing water, I am tempted to swim instead.” It is good to have a free of charge swimming facility in the capital, he said.
Mehmood Khawaja, who lives opposite the hiking trail, said, “Since the stream has rejuvenated, I love to spend my evenings here along with my family. The sound of the flowing water is refreshing in summers,” she said.
Shadmina Khan, the Senior Park Manager at HWF, said the stream water is clean and fit for drinking after minor filtration. Unfortunately, the water is going down the sewage line. Director Water Management of Capital Development Authority (CDA) Shahid Sohail said the authority cannot utilise the water because the stream is temporary and there is no place where this water can be stored in such a large quantity. “The authority is planning to set up rain harvesting points on the stream to conserve water in the future,” said Sohail. He said people living in the surrounding areas are consuming this water.
Asif Shuja, Director General Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), said that soon a team will be constituted to inspect the water and its usability for drinking purposes.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2010.