The Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar chaired a review meeting on bulk water supply from the Tarbela reservoir to Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Islamabad on Thursday through video conference. The consultants from MMP briefed the meeting about the current status of feasibility study for master planning of Bulk Water Transmission (Islamabad and Rawalpindi). The consultants have seven months to complete their report and their team will begin work in mid-October.
The project envisages the supply of water to the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi through surface as well as groundwater channels. The project is for supplying clean drinking water from the Indus River System at Tarbela Dam to the twin cities. Presently, the demand of water in Islamabad and Rawalpindi is 440 million gallon per day, half of which (220 million gallon) is being met from various sources. The gap of 220 million gallon per day will be fulfilled by this project.
While chairing the review meeting Asad Umar directed the MMP to complete the feasibility study expeditiously. He asked the Secretary Planner to contact the provincial government regarding land acquisition. The federal minister said that land acquisition matters should be finalized as soon as possible so as to avoid delay in commencement of work on the project.
He directed the CDA to ensure inclusion of project management experts in the team, while further instructing the Planning Secretary to seek clarification on issues related to availability of water from Tarbela to Islamabad and its share in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority, Ali Nawaz Awan, Secretary Planning, Member Infrastructure, representatives from Ministry of Interior and senior officials attended the meeting.
