ISLAMABAD: The city managers on Tuesday decided to get a feasibility study conducted from Wapda for the construction of two small dams in Islamabad

They said the proposed Shahdara and Chiniot dams were imperative to overcome the growing water shortage in the capital.

The Chiniot dam will be constructed in the catchment area of Simly Dam while the other dam is planned on the Shahdara stream.

The CDA board, which met with Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa in the chair, approved a summary for conducting the feasibility study of the two dams from Wapda.

Islamabad, a fast growing city, still relies on the old water sources and reservoirs which have now inadequate water to meet the city’s requirement. The overall water requirement of Islamabad (both rural and urban) is around 250 million gallon per day (mgd) with the city requirement is said to be 120mgd.

However, CDA supplies around 70mgd from its decades-old three main sources - Simly Dam, Khanpur Dam and tubewells.

The rural population has mainly been depending on boring water or some small supply schemes launched by the district government.

As a long-term solution, the CDA had conceived and proposed Ghazi Barotha project in 2007. It was designed to provide 100mgd to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Initially, the estimated cost of the project was Rs37 billion. However, in 2017, its cost was increased to Rs77 billion and now it has crossed the mark of Rs120 billion. However, no serious step is being taken for the early start of the project.

Meanwhile, the CDA board also decided to conduct a feasibility study through Wapda to explore the options for conduction of water which is being wasted due to seepage in Khanpur Dam.

The feasibility study will also include options for laying a pipeline for transporting water from Khanpur Dam to the Sangjani Treatment Plant.

It was also decided that a consultant would be hired under PPRA Rule 42 (F) for the construction of 104 family suites for parliamentarians. The board also decided to terminate the services of the previous consultant for the project.

Recently, CDA had been directed by National Assembly Secretariat and by a standing committee to complete the family suites project as soon as possible.

The CDA board also approved the terms and conditions for the auction of commercial plots and decided to implement an investor-friendly policy and process for the auction of plots.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2024