Officials of CDA and USAID at the inaugration of one of the tube-wells. PHOTO: FILE
A plan to introduce new, energy-efficient tube-wells in the capital has backfired. While the pumps consume far less energy, it seems that they also pump far less water.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has initiated an inquiry into 135 recently-installed tube well pumps across Islamabad which have allegedly caused a reduction in the city’s water supply.
A three-member committee headed by CDA Environment Member Dr Kazim Niaz will probe allegations that low-efficiency tube well pumps were installed.
In December 2012, the installation of 135 tube well pumps was initiated under the USAID Power Distribution Programme, which was announced by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2009 to support the government of Pakistan in reforming the power sector and mitigate the country’s energy crisis.
The CDA had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding free-of-cost replacement of all “low-efficiency” pumps with “high efficiency” ones. The CDA had not only accepted the USAID offer, but also agreed to hand over the dismantled pumps — totalling several million rupees in scrap value — to USAID for destroying.
The replacement of pumps was carried out by a consortium of three firms hired by USAID in collaboration with the CDA.
CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz told The Express Tribune that it was premature to say whether or not the recently installed pumps were of lower quality.
Shahbaz said he had received a number of water-related complaints from residents of areas where water is supplied through tube-wells. He said many such complaints only surfaced after the installation of the new pumps.
A member of the committee probing the issue said on condition of anonymity that their findings from initial investigations lent support to the allegations of reduced water supply to areas dependent on tube-wells.
He said since the defect notification period for the project has not passed yet, “if the allegations are proved the matter must be taken up with USAID in order to have the low-efficiency pumps replaced with more efficient ones.”
He said the committee would also look into the alleged involvement of CDA officials in approving the “substandard” pumps and for not conducting an energy audit prior to the replacement of old pumps.
Another official also said that after the replacement of the old pumps, water-related complaints saw a substantial increase.
“On Thursday last week, the authority received a total of 1,137 complaints, half of which were water shortage-related and were registered by the residents of sectors I-9 and I-10,” he added.
“Prior to selecting the pumping set, an energy audit of the tube-wells was required, and it was to be done by CDA. However, while executing the project, the CDA officials involved did not do their due diligence,” a senior water management wing official confided. This resulted in the installation of under-capacity pumps at many places, he added.
He further alleged that in connivance with the CDA officials, the vendors hired by USAID to execute the project, did the on-site work in a haphazard manner. “At some sites, cables were left hanging and had to be fixed later by CDA staff, and electrical panels were not installed properly, raising the risk of an untoward incident,” the official maintained.
On the flip side, CDA Engineering Member Sanaullah Aman said that of the 135 pumps, 106 are in order and are pumping water to their maximum capacity.
“After the installation was completed, the CDA carried out post energy audit of the pumps. It was found that some 29 pumps were not performing up to the mark, and USAID was told of this,” Aman said.
He said the CDA had taken control of 106 pumps, while the rest would be made fully-functional after removing faults.
CDA tube-wells — mostly installed in National Park areas — are the second-biggest source of water for Islamabad after Simly Dam.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2013.
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Dear, i am residence of F8, before this project we were having sever shortage of water , but now due to new machinery installed in tube well no 147 or so situated in F9 park, we are quite satisfied . in past there were day to day complaints and shortage of water due to old machinery faults, burn out etc ,, now from last august we are at peace,,,,