Rawalpindi: The government has allocated funds worth PKR 3.2 billion for carrying out the required development work at the Ghazi-Barotha Water Project, a news source reported on July 23. The venture is expected to provide 200 million gallons of water per day to address the water scarcity concerns reported in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The mega Ghazi-Barotha Water Supply Project is expected to meet the twin cities’ water related needs for the next 100 years. Under this project, a 60-kilometre long water supply line will be built to channel water from the Ghazi Barotha Hydel Power Project to the Sangjani Water Treatment Plant.
Under the first phase of Ghazi Barotha project, the government will acquire land to lay down two 80-inch wide water supply lines. Reportedly, the land survey in this regard has already been completed, while negotiations are underway with the landowners on determining the value of the said land.
Sources claim that the earmarked funds for the project will be released after Eid-ul-Azha, after which the process of land acquisition can be initiated.
The PKR 80 billion water supply project will be completed in three phases. The first two phases will help channel 200 million gallons of water per day each, while an additional 100 million gallons will be supplied in the third phase.
Sources claim that once development work on the the Ghazai-Barotha project and several other dams — including the Dadhocha Dam, Papin Dam, Chahan Dam and Mahota Dam — has been completed, underground water extraction in Rawalpindi via tube wells will no longer be required.
