RAWALPINDI: The government has still not released funds for three main projects of the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) allocated in the annual development programme and if not released timely, work on them may be delayed.

The government had, in the programme, included three main projects for improvement of the water system in the garrison city.

Total costs of the projects are Rs3.9 billion for the construction of four sewage treatment plants and sewerage lines, Rs900 million for establishment of a water supply system and filtration plant to bring water from Daducha Dam and Rs490 million for rehabilitation of Rawal Lake Treatment Plant and replacement of old transmission pipe and water testing laboratory.

A senior Wasa official said the government allocated Rs10 million for the construction of four sewage treatment plants and sewerage lines in this fiscal year, Rs200 million was allocated for land acquisition for establishment of water supply system and filtration plant to bring water from Daducha Dam and Rs50 million for rehabilitation of Rawal Lake Treatment Plant and replacement of old transmission pipe and water testing laboratory.

He said that if the government released funds late then it would be difficult to complete these projects before next summer and people would face water shortage next year.

He said Wasa asked the government to release the funds as soon as possible so work would be started on these three main projects, adding Wasa was also facing financial crises and would not able to start work from the income generated by the agency through water and sewerage bills.

He said that after increase in the electricity charges, the agency had to spend more money to keep tube wells and water filtration plants in running condition.

He said that there was dire need to restore the old water supply line from Rawal Dam to the city area to provide clean water to the residents of the garrison city to avoid water shortage.

He said that the establishment of Daducha Dam water supply system would take more than a year and it would be started as soon as possible otherwise, the project would likely be delayed for a year more. When contacted, Wasa spokesman Umer Farooq said that the agency was working on launching the projects and in this regard, it completed all the homework. As soon as funds are released, the work would be started, he said.

He said the government would soon release the money and the agency would start the work.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2022