RAWALPINDI: Despite promises to resolve water shortage and launch development works, the PTI-led Punjab government has so far failed to start any project in the city areas.
The local bureaucracy fears that the water shortage would worsen in the next summer. There are more than six projects which require funds for completion. These include construction of roads.
But there is no project to resolve the water shortage. The government failed to start work on projects that were included in the last annual development programme.
In the last fiscal year, the previous Punjab government had approved the Ammar Chowk remodeling project worth Rs800 million, Liaquat Bagh and Marrir Chowk underpass Rs10 million and I.J. Principal Road interchange worth Rs1.9 billion.
A senior official of the RDA said after change of government in Punjab, the new government’s priorities changed and it wanted to complete the ongoing projects launched by the previous PML-N government in the first phase.
He said for the new projects, the government wanted to wait for the next fiscal year. He said the Ammar Chowk remodeling project had been pending for five years. It was launched in 2013 on the request of the garrison authorities to ease traffic in front of the garrison headquarters on Airport Road.
However, work on the Liaquat Bagh and Marrir Chowk project aimed at easing traffic on Murree Road was yet to be started. He said because of the delay, the cost of the projects would escalate.
The official said the government wanted to start work on the Ring Road and Leh Expressway project and parking plazas but it would take more than a year.
“The RDA board of directors is still incomplete and after the formation of the board, the initial approval would be given for the new projects and then it would be sent to the Punjab government for final approval and funding.” When contacted, RDA Chairman Arif Abbasi said the development works in the city areas would be started soon. He said the government had been contacted for the release of funds for the approved projects.
About the water shortage, he said the government was well aware of the issue and working to solve it. He said the RDA would send its proposals to the government soon.
Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2018