ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to construct at least one small dam every year in Islamabad to preserve rainwater and utilize it during drought situation, a source told Dawn on Sunday.

The CDA will approach the Federal Flood Control Commission (FFCC) for funding the project as the Authority with limited resources could not meet the expenses.

The dams will be constructed at Margalla Hills under a rain harvesting plan, prepared by the CDA for preserving and better utilization of stream and rainwater.

The process of rainwater collection for direct use or its recharge into the groundwater in builtup areas is called rainwater harvesting.

In broader terms, with the given conditions of the Capital, it can be said that any activity for surface/sub-surface storage of rainwater run-off can be termed as rainwater harvesting.

The plan suggested a survey of Islamabad to check disposal of garbage in nullah and drains. In this connection the CDA has been asked to impose fine on those who throw garbage directly into nullahs and drains.

Similarly, digging of tubewells in residential areas should be stopped. However, inverted wells beside each tubewell would be dug to store water for the existing tubewells.

The plan suggested that big ponds of water should be constructed on the South of Kashmir Highway so that the underground water level could remain high.

The CDA will soon amend laws and make it compulsory for everyone to construct overhead tanks in new and old buildings to store rainwater that could be used for gardening and other purposes.

Demand for water was rapidly increasing in Islamabad, while water resources were fast declining, a senior CDA official said.

He said the present demand of water in the city was 90 million gallon per day (MGD) and it was likely to increase by 133 MGD by the year 2015.