Rs 114m allocated for water schemes in rural areas

[Salman]

Rs 114m allocated for water schemes in rural areas

ISLAMABAD: The Local Government and Rural Development Department of the Islamabad Capital Territory is making elaborated arrangements for the provision of drinking water in the rural areas of the city in the advent of the summer season.

According to details, the Islamabad chief commissioner has directed the officials concerned to make water-supply schemes in the rural areas more effective, catering to the local community in a befitting manner.

He directed the officials to hold meetings with the local community and ensure proper water supply arrangements in the rural areas.

An official source said that there were more than 70 water-supply schemes in the rural areas, and the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) had also been requested to ensure smooth supply of electricity to the water schemes so that they could cater to the local community in an effective manner.

The source said that a few water supply schemes were not functional due to various reasons, including lack of interest by water-user committees.

The Islamabad Capital Territory officials had been directed to activate water-user committees with the consent of the local community and make the schemes functional, he said. The source said that the Islamabad Capital Territory also had plans to install more than a dozen water-filtration plants in the rural areas.

The source said that an estimated cost of Rs 26.650 million had been allocated for the upgrading water-supply scheme at Tarlai and Rs 30.947 million for five water schemes in the rural areas of the city.

He said that a water scheme at Kalinger costing Rs 8.650 million would be started soon, while Rs 48.600 million had been allocated for schemes at Dhok Mango and the adjoining areas of Kot Hathial. ap