May 24, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 21,1424

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RAWALPINDI, May 23: Differences have surfaced between the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) as the latter has refused to take over the urban water supply and sanitation project (phase 1) from the former, sources told Dawn here on Thursday.

The project, which had been initiated with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank, was executed by the PMU and, according to the plan, was supposed to be taken over by Wasa.

However, Wasa questioning the validity of the project was not willing to go along with the process, the sources said.

They alleged that the PMU officials were not ready to provide essential project-related information, including drawings of water lines and sewerage system as well as survey of other details, to Wasa prior to handing over of the project.

While Wasa officials were not ready to take over the project before receiving the details, as maintenance and upkeep of the network would be impossible without the data.

The delay in the taking over of the project could cause hardships for the residents in summer as severe water shortage could strike the areas, the sources maintained.

When contacted, the coordinator of the PMU and the chief engineer of the Rawalpindi Development Authority, Col (retired) Aksar Khan, dispelled the impression that there were any differences between the PMU and Wasa over the handing over of the project.

He said some contractors had spread the news for their ulterior motives.

He said that the contractors were pressurising the PMU to pay them the total amounts which had been sanctioned for their assignments without completing their works.

He said how could the PMU provide money to those contractors who had either not completed their works or had used substandard materials.

He said the contractors had formed an association and were trying to tarnish the image of the civic body.

Wasa, Mr Khan added, would take over the project, which would be completed within four months.

He said as the deadline for the project had been extended from March 31 to Sept 22, there was enough time to complete the job within the timeframe.

He answered in the negative when asked whether the reported engineering flaws in the construction of an underground main drainage at Satellite Town were true.

He said after completion of the project the residents of the area would face no drainage-related problems as the drain had been constructed keeping in view minute details.

About the delay in the construction work at the three main bridges over Nulla Leh — Pir Wadhai, Dhok Charagh Din and Gawalmandi - Mr Khan said that they would also be completed within the deadline.

He said work on Pir Wadhai Bridge would soon be completed, while the other two projects would take a little more time.