RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Tariq Mehmood Khan has issued directions to devise a plan for de-silting Rawal Lake and enhance its storage capacity from 28,000 cubic feet to 43,000 cubic feet by next week.

He gave this direction to the technical team of Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and Small Dams Organisation (SDO) during its meeting held in his office.

The meeting was attended by Wasa Managing Director Mohammad Tanveer, SDO Project Director Mehar Manzoor, Wasa Director (Supply) Mohammad Tauseef, Deputy Director (Planning) Azizullah and SDO Assistant Director Arslan Abbas.

The team informed the RDA chairman that the water storage capacity of Rawal Lake had reduced due to silt and waste coming from drains and nullahs discharged in the Rawal Lake and there was a dire need for de-silting the lake to enhance storage capacity.

They said once de-silting started, water supply to the garrison city would enhance before the summer season, adding that winter was the right time to de-silt the lake otherwise it would be difficult in and after monsoon season.

RDA chairman says Punjab govt wants to increase storage capacity to cater to water needs for next 50 years

Rawal Dam is one of the main water reservoirs for the twin cities. However, from its construction in 1962, silting has caused over 50pc loss to water storage capacity of the dam so far.

RDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Khan said the Punjab government wanted to increase water storage capacity to cater to the need of water for the garrison city for the next50yearsat least.

He said the government wanted to provide clean water to residents of the garrison city without any hurdle and in this regard, it sought recommendations of the technical committee so funds could be allocated as soon as possible.

He said people faced water shortage in every summer but this summer would be different, adding that tube wells would also established in areas where water could not be supplied from the dam.

“At present, thedam’s original capacitywas43,000 cubic feet but due to silt, the capacity of the dam reduced to 28,000 cubic feet.

“The water filtration plant installed at the dam was able to clean 28 MGD. However, at present, the garrison city received 23 MGD water from Rawal Dam,” a senior Wasa official said.

After increasing the capacity, the agency would be able to get 50-60 MGD water from the dam to provide it to all the union councils and bulk water to Pakistan Railways, Military Engineering Services (MES) and other military organisations.

“There are two proposals to increase the water capacity of the dam. One proposal is to increase the height of the dam by 5 feet from all sides and the second proposal is to de-silt the lake,” he said, adding that de-silting was the best option and the technical team will send recommendations to Punjab government by next Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, january 7th, 2023