ISLAMABAD: After the contamination in Islamabad’s Rawal Dam, the Khanpur Dam is also facing such issues, as a recent water quality test declared its water unsafe for consumption, while a rapid increase in development activities in the vicinity of the dam also poses a threat of sewage contamination.

This was revealed in official correspondence between the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), the Capital Development Authority (CDA), and other stakeholders.

CDA sources said that recently Wapda, which is the custodian of the Khanpur Dam, through an official letter informed the civic agency about the contamination issues. The sources said that the Wapda took up this matter with the Haripur deputy commissioner but also shared a copy of the letter with the CDA.

According to sources, Shoaib Arshad, in-charge of Khanpur Dam, wrote a letter to the Haripur DC on Oct 11 in which he raised concerns about the contamination of the reservoir.

Reservoir falls prey to development, boat tourism; number of boats increases from 53 in 2017 to 400 in 2024

“Recent water quality tests…declared the water unsafe for consumption,” said the letter, adding that contamination was exacerbated at lower reservoir levels during winter.

It further said: “The rapid increase in the development of resorts and societies such as Mayfair, Top Hill, and Lake Shore Residencia, etc. in the vicinity of Khanpur Dam Project also poses a threat of sewage contamination of the lake.”

Moreover, stone crushers operating along the Nilan Kas, one of the tributaries of Khanpur Dam having 28pc of the catchment area, are contributing sediments to the reservoir.

Illegal boating

The letter, while discussing the issue of boating, stated that through an order issued in May 2023, the Khanpur Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) was restricted from registering new jetties at Khanpur Dam Lake. There were already 33 registered boats, and any further registration would be contingent on the finalisation of the proper mechanism and a memorandum of understanding between Wapda and the Khanpur TMA, it added.

A recent survey revealed that over 45 jetties and more than 400 boats are operational in the lake, exceeding the aforementioned limit of 33 and violating the ban.

The letter further said: “Wapda considers TMA Khanpur’s registration and operation of boating activities at Khanpur Dam Lake and the establishment of parking stands on Wapda land at Makawala Dyke and downstream of the spillway to be illegal encroachment.

From 2018 to 2020, TMA Khanpur collected unauthorised revenue from boat owners operating in Khanpur Dam Lake without registration of boat owners.

In 2021, TMA Khanpur initiated the registration of boat owners without a necessary mandate under the Local Government Act 2013 and lacking a formal agreement with Wapda.”

According to the letter, the Wapda chairman convened a meeting on September 10, 2024, to address the issue of unauthorised revenue generation by the TMA on Wapda land/reservoir. It added that Wapda was formulating a policy to regulate boating activities as per the 2010 Environmental Magistrate Haripur decision.

“This decision mandated Wapda to establish agreements with boat owners and implement preventive measures, similar to those adopted by the CDA at Rawal Dam Lake to mitigate pollution,” the letter added.

It may be noted that a lack of sewage treatment plants for Rawal Dam has resulted in round-the-clock contamination of the reservoir with untreated sewage and solid waste making its way to the lake.

The Wapda’s letter said: “TMA’s disregard to these preventive measures and mushroom growth of boats at Khanpur Dam Lake is contaminating the primary source of drinking water for the residents” of Islamabad and Rawalpindi as well as the UET Taxila.

The letter said that the number of boats has significantly increased since 2005. There were only 13 boats in 2005, while in 2015 there were only 24 boats, and in 2017, there were 53 boats.

However, in 2023, the number of boats operating in the reservoir was 350, and the number increased to 400 in 2024.

Wapda asked the Haripur DC to enforce the ban on the registration of new boats.

Similarly, the letter said that the rapid development of societies near Khanpur Dam should be discouraged, and the operation of illegal stone crushers near Choi contributing sediments to the lake may be stopped.

“TMA Khanpur may be directed to provide details of record of jetty registration since the imposition of ban on May 10, 2023. Legal action may be taken against illegally registered jetties that are registered with TMA Khanpur during the ban period and those operating without registration at Khanpur Dam Lake.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024