RAWALPINDI, June 12: The district government has asked the contractors of Leh extension project to complete the work within the stipulated timeframe.

District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiani during his visit to the project site and chairing a meeting of Rawalpindi Development Authority stressed on meeting the deadline set for the completion of the project.

Although work on construction of bridges was going on but the hindrance being encountered in the work was due to the delay in acquiring the land, the rates of which were still being disputed.

The Punjab governor during his visit had ordered the authorities to divide the work into various phases due to the unexpected rise in the cost of land acquisition for which the government did not have sufficient funds.

It had been decided that the critical areas should be taken up first.

Sources said contractors have been fully mobilized and very soon they would be demanding compensation.

They said asking the contractors to complete the work in time would be of little use, if the district government did not fulfil its part of the bargain, that is acquiring the land for the project, without which it would be difficult for the contractors to work at full pace.

Mr Kiani said the people of Rawalpindi would be provided an alternative park to replace Liaquat Park, which was being done away with to accommodate expansion of Nullah Leh.

Water situation: The meeting also discussed the water situation in the city. The Nazim was informed that at some places tubewells were not working due to low level of water.

Mr Kiani directed that the areas facing scarcity should be provided with water bowzers to mitigate their problem of water shortage.

He said work on construction of eight additional filtration beds at Rawal Lake should be completed before the end of the current fiscal year, so that the supply to the city could be enhanced with the improvement in water level during monsoon season.

The meeting was informed that the testing of Divisional Public School link lines had been completed and ruptured lines replaced.

The officials at the meeting stated that Rawalpindi would get 14.6 MGD water from Khanpur Dam as soon as the water situation improves there.