RAWALPINDI: Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Saturday asked the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to ensure establishment of a sewage treatment plant (STP) in the upstream area of Chahan Dam so that waste water flowing from housing societies did not pollute the dam lake.

He stated this during his visit to the Chahan Dam site to review progress on the ongoing construction work. The minister also visited Ring Road project site. RDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza, Wasa Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

The Wasa officials informed the minister that the total cost of the project was Rs6 billion and it would provide clean drinking water to six union councils in the city - Dhamyal, Garja, Dhaman Syedan, Lakhan, Chak Jalaluddin and Kalial.

They said the provincial government had so far released Rs45 million to Wasa whereas Rs1 billion were required to purchase land for setting up the water filtration plant and laying the supply network in the union councils.

The minister assured the officials that funds to acquire the land would be obtained in the current fiscal year so that people would be provided potable water.

Talking to mediapersons, the minister said provision of basic civic facilities to the people was the main priority of the PTI government.

“Rawalpindi Ring Road is a mega development project which will be completed at the cost of Rs65 million and it will not only resolve traffic issues in Rawalpindi and Islamabad but also improve economic activities in the region,” he said.

The minister said the Ring Road would directly connect Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Attock and the residents of Chakwal and Jhelum would also benefit from it.

He urged the people to give their land in national interest and the government would not only compensate well but also provide facilities.

“The proposed length of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project was 64km, and will start from N-5 near Radio Pakistan in Rawat. The road will be connected to M-1 and M-2 and would cross N-5 to connect with Islamabad and end at Sangjani,” he added.

Mr Khan said the the road would have six lanes and eight interchanges besides special economic zones as well as fruit and vegetable market and Gawala Colony along the road.

In addition to this, the proposed project includes construction of a health city, dry ports, bus and truck terminals and theme parks along Ring Road, the minister said, adding that the government was committed to solving water problems in the area, which the previous governments had failed to do.

Replying to a question, the minister said the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) would not resign from assemblies and it was just giving dates for resignations and protests.

He said the opposition parties should sit with the government on national and international issues such as Covid-19, Indian threats, Kashmir issue, electoral reforms and economic problems.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2021