CDA plans strategy for water supply to capital

[LahoreEstate]

Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Islamabad

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has planned three-pronged strategy to resolve chronic water scarcity facing the federal capital. According to a senior official, the strategy includes construction of six small dams, drilling of additional tube-wells and provision of water supply from Ghazi-Barotha Dam.

He said the feasibility study of six small dams has already been completed and soon work would be started, however, the official was not sure about the exact time of project’s execution. He said that currently there are 188 tube-wells in Islamabad but these are not fulfilling the ever-increasing demand of water supply due to one or other reasons.

The authority has decided to bore additional tube-wells in different sectors especially in newly developed sectors to meet water shortage. Besides, he added that number of water tankers would also be increased.

Regarding water supply from Ghazi-Barotha, he said the NWFP and Punjab governments have conveyed to CDA their no objection to the Rs47 billion worth Water Supply Project (GBWSP). He said initially, the NWFP government had serious reservations about GBWSP, however, the authority managed to convince it that the project would ensure supply of requisite water to the federal city without harming its interests.

He said Punjab had also issued No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the project, adding that authority was in contact with Sindh and Balochistan governments to secure respective NOC.He warned acute water shortage would hit the capital city in view of the proposed launch of 11 new residential sectors if approval to GBWSP was denied or delayed.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=165456