ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will construct six small dams in the foothills of Margalla range to store rainwater, which becomes waste due to lack of conservation system in the Capital, the interior minister, Faisal Saleh Hayat, told the National Assembly in a written reply on Tuesday.

In reply to a question raised by MNA Asif Tauseef about the construction of dams, the minister said Rs4.9 million would be spent on the project.

He said these dams would be constructed near Golra, Maira Bheri, Dhoke Jewan, Kalanjar, Saidpur and Noorpur Shahan.

A source in the interior ministry told Dawn that the minister had directed the Authority to find out new vistas of saving rainwater so that it could be utilized to overcome water scarcity in the Capital.

He said the construction of six small dams will cost Rs5 million and the Authority was expected to get additional water of 15 million gallon per day (MGD).

The official said a feasibility was being prepared to look into the technical aspects of the project. In this connection, financial and technical assistance of Federal Flood Commission (FFC) was also being sought.

Another source said Pakistan Commission for Water and Research (PCWR) was being approached to prepare a feasibility of a pilot project to use rainwater for harvesting.

He said the FFC had been asked for funding and maintenance of the project, as the Authority with limited resources could not meet its expenses.

The source said a separate plan had been prepared to fine those, who threw garbage into Nullahs and drains.

Similarly, digging of tubewells in residential areas is likely to be stopped. However, beside each tubewell, inverted wells would be dug to store water for the existing tubewells.

The plan suggested that big ponds should be established at the southern area of Kashmir Highway so that the underground water level could remain high.

The source said the CDA would shortly make some amendments in its laws and to make it compulsory that everyone had to construct rooftop water tanks in new and old buildings to store rainwater that could be used for gardening and other purposes.

He said the present demand of water in the city was 90mgd and it was likely to increase by 133mgd by 2015.