RAWALPINDI, Oct 11: The Central Working Development Party (CDWP), has approved phase-II of Khanpur Dam Water Supply Scheme, Brig Hamid Khalil, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) station commander said on Thursday.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the phase-I of Khanpur Dam Water Supply Scheme, here today, the station commander said presently the matter is under consideration of Ecnec, which is also expected to give its ascent soon.

The phase two is scheduled to be completed by next year, he added.

The residents of cantonment have been receiving water from Khanpur Dam since July 23.

The outgoing Rawalpindi corps commander, Lt-Gen Jamshaid Gulzar, said the government had changed the national scenario in the interest of the public.

The corps commander said the formal inauguration of phase 1, which was completed about four-and-a-half months back had been delayed till the time all the affected people began to benefit from water supply.

Gen Gulzar said attempts woul be made to improve the common man’s plight. There are a number of projects in pipeline that will be soon completed.

He hoped that Rawalpindi would soon become a model district.

Referring to his transfer as adjutant general, he said, this would not terminate his relations with the people of Rawalpindi and that he would continue to regularly interact with them.

“I would share all of your projects and schemes as I am son of this soil,” he added.

The commander of engineering corps, Brig Agha Ali, said the phase 1 was estimated at Rs180 million but had been completed within Rs111 million in addition to certain other expenditures incurred due to imposition of GST and other taxes.

He said only government land had been used for the project thus saving money on compensation to land owners. A small percentage was spent on repair of roads and other infrastructure damaged while working on the project.

Completion of phase 1 has helped reduce load on 40 of the 119 tubewells of the cantonment. This has helped increase in water supply to the residents and saving on electricity and fuel used for pumping of water. This would also help in restoring the fast depleting ground watertable, he said.

A 12 to 24 days water reservoir has been constructed, which can be used during the time of crisis, he said.