CDA launches water tanker service for model villages

[LahoreEstate]

* Authority’s chairman says city facing water shortage of 29 MGD
* PC asks CDA to acquire land for Ghazi Barotha project
* Water Management DG says 10 more tankers inducted into fleet
* Tanker service for slums soon

By Fazal Sher

ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) is making utmost efforts to launch Ghazi Barotha Water Supply Project (GBWSP), as the city is currently facing shortage of 29 million gallons water per day (MGD), said CDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Khan on Thursday.

Khan was addressing launching ceremony of water tanker service for model villages of Islamabad. People from different walks of life including civil society representatives, schoolchildren and government functionaries attended the function.

Ghazi Barotha Project: “The Planning Commission (PC) has asked CDA to start acquisition of land for GBWSP and in this regard negotiations with the Korean government and World Bank (WB) are underway for the provision of funds for the project,” he said.

Due to shortage of water some sectors of the capital faced unavailability of drinking water for weeks, he said. Khan said CDA was striving to resolve water shortage problem and launching of water tanker service for model villages was a step in this direction.

Khan said due to small number of tankers, very few people usually got water tankers despite lodging complaints. The city is facing a shortage of 29 MGD, he said, adding, presently the total water supply to the city is 86 MGD while the required amount of water is 115 MGD. He said people should cautiously utilise the water and avoid irrigating their lawns and washing cars with the drinking water supplied by the authority.

Tankers fleet: CDA Director General Water and Sewerage Management Sanaullah Aman said the newly established wing of water management was taking a number of short and long-term measures to resolve the shortage of water in the city. The CDA has inducted 10 more water tankers into its fleet and was negotiating with private sector for induction of 30 more tankers, he said.

He said for the first time in the history of Islamabad CDA was providing water tankers service to model villages. The authority has also formed an emergency task force to repair leakage of water supply lines and has deputed special squad to handle illegal connections, he said.

Slum areas: Aman said CDA would soon launch tanker service for the slum areas of the city. The project of laying down main conduction line from Shah Allah Ditta for provision of water to the newly developed sectors is being revived after nine years, he said, adding, the newly developed sectors D-12, G-13 and G-14 would be supplied water through alternative routes within three months, he said.

He said Chirah Dam would be constructed soon, which would supply 5 MGD. Two more filtration plants in national park area would provide 7 MGD additional water, he said.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg11_2