RAWALPINDI, Aug 29: The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) is all set to embark on a Rs200 million plan to supply an additional four million gallons per day (mgd) water to the residents of Shamsabad, Sadiqabad, Muslim Colony and localities on the eastern side of Murree Road, officials said.

Wasa Managing Director Lt-Col (retired) Islamul Haq told Dawn on Wednesday that within a year the civic agency would sink three tubewells and rehabilitate nine existing ones in Soan village to increase the supply.

He said the provincial government had approved the project on the recommendation of Wasa.

At present, the target areas receive only 6mgd water from the Khanpur Dam, which is only half of its allotted share. In the wake of this shortfall, the consumers face acute shortage of water.

“The additional 4mgd supply is exclusively meant for meeting the drinking water requirements in the said areas,” the Wasa chief noted.

According to him, the nine tubewells are lying inoperative for last many years, and once rehabilitated these will significantly cater to the demand of the residents.

It is pertinent to mention here that Wasa authorities had termed the rehabilitation of Soan ground water project “dead” and “impossible” due to unavailability of funds.

However, Mr Haq said: “Drinking water is a valuable commodity and the dearth of funds should not be an obstacle or reason for abandoning any water project.”

He was confident that the rehabilitation and installation of tubewells would be completed before the project deadline in order to address the longstanding water-related complaints of the residents.

Replying to a question, Mr Haq said Rawalpindi would soon be able to draw the required quantity of water by utilising both surface and ground (dams and tubewells) water sources, besides reducing contamination of water.