February 02, 2007	Friday	Muharram 13, 1428

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RAWALPINDI, Feb 1: City authorities have received Rs320.3 million from foreign and domestic sources to replace the broken down sewage system in the city but there is no work in sight.

That however did not prevent the authorities from increasing the water charges in advance by 25 per cent to repay the loans they have contracted with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to implement the Rs5.14 billion Rawalpindi Environment Improvement Project (REIP) to which the Punjab government is also contributing.

Sources in the city’s Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) told Dawn on Thursday that the contract awarded by REIP’s Project Management Unit (PMU) would replace the decaying sewerage lines in only 30 per cent area of the city.

They said the Rawalpindi City District Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas wanted 100 per cent coverage as the basic objective of the project was to improve the 50-year-old sewerage system in the city which was contaminating the drinking water supply lines.

However, the consultant hired by the PMU has informed that the Rs5.14 billion fund was not sufficient for the entire city.

PMU Project Director Aslam Ali Sabzwari refused to comment on the issue, passing on the responsibility to the city nazim who, he said, was supervising the multi-billion project.

All Mr Sabzwari would say was that it was not possible to please all the people at the same time.

No wonder, the Rawal Town council last week asked the city district government, the PMU, Wasa to accept no more ADB loans as the project would snare the citizens in debts without bringing any benefit to them.

Sources said that sewage oozing from decaying lines was contaminating the water supply all over the city. Sewage lines in the 46 union councils of the city lie above the water supplying lines and were contaminating piped and underground water both.

Naib Nazim Dhoke Ratta Nasir Mir told Dawn that the PMU proved to be ‘totally unqualified’ to carry out the environment improvement project. Recently, it purchased 40 containers which the Department of Solid Waste Management unfit for the purpose.

“We would protest against the mishandling of the project by PMU and the decision to lay sewerage lines in only 30 percent areas of the city,” he said.

Mr Mir said the tubewells sunk by the executers of REIP were drawing contaminated water and majority of areas had not been provided tubewells.