RAWALPINDI: In the revised project concept-I (PC-I), the cost of the Khanpur Dam water supply project launched in 2010 for the cantonment areas has escalated from Rs700 million to Rs844 million.

The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has sent the revised PC-I to the finance ministry for approval. Three reasons were cited for the cost escalation: slow pace of work, Pakistan Railways (PR)’s demand for Rs30 million to use its land and the additional work in the original project.

The project was launched to supply drinking water to the civilian population of the Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment boards.

“The project had to be completed by 2012 but due to the slow work by the executing agency - the RCB - the cost increased from Rs699.5 million to Rs844 million,” a senior official of the CCB told Dawn.

He said most of the areas which would benefit from the project fell in the jurisdiction of the CCB but the RCB was running the project in a slow pace.

He said the RCB constructed additional water tanks in its areas but did not provide additional storage tanks to the CCB. He said Pakistan Railways was provided an additional amount which also increased the cost of the project. As a result, the finance ministry sought a revised PC-I otherwise the project would have lapsed by the end of 2016.

RCB spokesman Qaisar Mehmood told Dawn that the pace of work on the project remained slow as the federal government did not release funds during the last six years. In the meantime, the cost of cement, iron and other construction material increased, he added.

There was also an issue over the laying of the supply lines between the RCB and the railways as the latter did not allow the RCB to lay the main supply lines under the railway track without being paid.Under the project, 10 overhead and underground reservoirs would be constructed.

The water tanks were to be established at Afshan Colony, Burfkhana Chowk, Allama Iqbal Colony, Tipu Road, Adiala Road, Nasirabad, Jhanda Chichi, Dhoke Syedan and Adra.

The project will enhance the water supply from Khanpur Dam to 19 million gallon daily (MGD). At present, the RCB and CCB are getting nine MGD of water from the Khanpur Dam and five MGD from tubewells.

The issue of the water supply project was taken up by elected members of the PML-N with Capt Mohammad Safdar who looks after the affairs of development funds for the MNAs.MNA Malik Abrar held a meeting with Mr Safdar along with CCB Vice President Raja Irfan Imtiaz and RCB Vice President Malik Munir after which the finance ministry asked the RCB to submit the revised PC-I.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2017