Ghazi Barotha project to become reality soon

[LahoreEstate]

Monday, June 29, 2009
Noor Aftab

Islamabad

The Ghazi Barotha water pipeline project is going to become a reality as the Planning Commission is likely to give a green signal to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in the coming days for the biggest ever project in the history of the federal capital, the sources told ‘The News’ here on Sunday.

The sources in CDA said a detailed report on land acquisition and engineering cost of the Ghazi Barotha project was submitted to the Planning Commission in the recent past. “The Planning Commission in its initial assessment has shown its satisfaction over the report and it is likely to approve Ghazi Barotha pipeline project in the coming days,” the sources said.

According to the report submitted to the Planning Commission, the total escalated cost of the 45-kilometre water pipeline project would be Rs45 billion and a multi-faceted process of land acquisition would be started in cooperation with the local administrations of various areas including Attock and Haripur. The sources further stated that the inter-provincial committee is ready to play its due role to satisfy two provinces of Sindh and Balochistan that have been offering resistance for water share of Islamabad from Ghazi Barotha Dam.

The pre-feasibility report prepared some years back by the CDA estimated the total cost of the project at Rs34 billion. But now the feasibility report showed that CDA would need Rs45 billion for the project. The sources said the federal government would provide funds for the project under the Public Sector Development Projects (PSDP) while the Punjab government would also share the cost as 100 million gallon of water would also be provided to the Rawalpindi Cantonment area.

The sources said that CDA had been making hectic efforts to launch the project but it always faced numerous problems and sometimes it seemed that the project would not touch the ground. The main water sources in the capital city include Simly Dam on River Soan, Khanpur Dam on River Korang and tube-wells. Rawalpindi will receive 120 million gallons of water daily from Ghazi Barotha, while Islamabad pipeline will bring 380 million gallons daily for the capital. The project also includes the construction of filtration plants, small reservoirs and two tunnels.

It is pertinent to mention here that the capital city having a population of almost one million, entirely depends on rain and groundwater for water supply to its residential sectors. CDA Director General (Water Management) Sanaullah Aman told ‘The News’ that currently water is being supplied for limited hours; however, the supply would be available round the clock after the completion of the project.

He said, “We are trying to ensure adequate availability of water given the rising population and development of new residential sectors in the city.” Sanaullah Aman said a water tariff mechanism would be introduced after completion of the Ghazi Barotha water pipeline project and every one would have to pay the bill as per its usage. He said they have submitted a report on the project to the Planning Commission that is going to thoroughly review it before its final approval.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=185478