RAWALPINDI, Dec 29: Sewerage and drainage system will be established in more than 23 localities of the city under the forthcoming Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded Rawalpindi Environment Improvement Project (REIP), official sources told Dawn on Monday.

Most of the areas, inhabited by low and middle income people, are located in the west of Nikki Nullah near Pirwadhai in the jurisdiction of the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa). The localities are the most vulnerable to floods during rainy seasons.

The areas which will get drainage and sewerage system are: Badar Colony, Bangash Colony, Muhallah Chaudryan, Ziaul Haq Colony, Dhoke Hassu, Fauji Colony, Muhallah Farooqiya, Allama Iqbal Colony, Officers Colony, Dhoke Hassu, Muhallah Allamabad, Dhoke Matkal, Dhoke Ratta, Dhoke Ratta Amraal, Hazara Colony, Quaidabad, Muhallah Muslimabad, Awan Colony, Muhallah Mazharabad, Sabri Muhallah, Muhallah Mai Sharifaan, Muhallah Tekadaraan and Muhallah Babu Lal Hussain.

According to Wasa officials, the localities are part of the 70 per cent of residential areas which had been without any sewerage or drainage system since independence.

As many as five tributaries run through the areas and join Nullah Leh near Pirwadhai. Even during normal rains, the localities present a flood-like picture. The officials said those were the most environmentally degraded areas and often the target of various kind of diseases.

Residents of some of the localities had themselves established drainage facilities on a self-help basis, which had further multiplied problems of the residents.

Nespak, a state-run engineering and consultative organization, has prepared the drainage and sewerage plan during its ongoing technical study before execution of the REIP.

The REIP is the second phase of the recently completed over Rs4 billion ADB-funded urban water supply and sanitation project.

The REIP had been estimated to cost about $100 million. The ADB would provide 80 per cent of the amount while the rest would come from the Punjab government.

The sewerage and drainage plan would also be converted into a digital format, which would help sort out problems after completion of the project.