Rawalpindi: Land acquired in Gorakhpur for sewage treatment plant

[Naveed Yaseen]

Saeed Ahmed
The land has been acquired in Gorakhpur for the installation of a sewage treatment plant, a component of the Rawalpindi Environment Improvement Plan (REIP), claimed Project Management Unit Director Salim Raza.

The process of payment of compensation to the affected people is in progress, he said while talking to ‘The News’ here on Tuesday. Public Relations Officer Mohammad Umar was present on the occasion.

Salim Raza said that the PMU is stuck up in clearing and acquiring a portion of land falling in the jurisdiction of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board.

He said that negotiations in this regard were underway with RCB officials, including the station commander, and the issue would be resolved within one month, after which work on the sewage treatment plant would be initiated.

Replying to a question about other components of the REIP, including laying of sewerage pipelines in different union councils, he said that work was in progress, particularly in Asghar Mall Scheme. In Asghar Mall Scheme, the pending work would be completed in one week. He appealed to the residents to cooperate with the PMU in implementing the components of the project. He said the residents should consider long-term benefits from the project. The hardships and difficulties currently being faced by them are temporary, he said.

The project director said that in addition to it the PMU has got approved and implemented the Solid Waste Management Plan. Under this plan, solid waste is being lifted from different wards and dumped on the land acquired in Chak Beli Khan.

The solid waste is being dumped and processed scientifically, informed Mohammad Umar. He said that scientific method is being implemented in dumping of waste to check pollution and prevent blockade of rainwater at underground level.

To a question, both the project director and the PRO said that the cost of the project would increase from Rs5 billion to Rs7 billion due to the price hike.

“The Asian Development Bank has released its total payment for implementation of all components of the project. The remaining funds, including the increase in total cost of the project, would be borne by the Punjab government,” Salim Raza said. To another question, he said, a delay of five to six months is being foreseen in the project.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=142493