Untreated sewage, solid waste continue to pollute Rawal Dam

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) failure to install sewage treatment plants for Rawal Dam has led to continuous contamination of the reservoir. Untreated sewage and solid waste are flowing into the lake via streams, particularly Korang Nullah, in the catchment area.

According to a report in Dawn, a project worth Rs6 billion was planned a couple of years ago under the Public Sector Development Programme, funded by the federal government. However, only Rs255 million was allocated for this project in the outgoing fiscal year.

The insufficient funds prevented the project from starting, prompting the CDA to demand Rs3.5 billion in the upcoming budget. The project aims to establish treatment plants in the catchment areas of Shahdara, Bari Imam, and Banigala.

The issue of untreated sewage reached the Supreme Court a few years ago, with the court urging the relevant authorities to address the matter.

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“The contaminated water in Korang and other nullahs [which feed Rawal Dam] is a major issue and should be resolved on a priority basis,” said an official. Sewage from various settlements in Murree, Bari Imam, Bhara Kahu, and Banigala is a primary source of the reservoir’s contamination.

In 2021, the CDA called for bids, which opened in July of the same year. However, the contract could not be awarded within the stipulated time, causing the bid validity to expire. Consequently, the PC-I was revised, escalating the project’s cost to Rs6 billion.

In January this year, the CDA floated tenders, but construction firms showed no interest due to funding concerns.

Sources indicated that the bidding process failed because of the funding issue. The project’s Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) model lacked an escalation clause, deterring contractors who doubted the CDA’s ability to fund and complete the project within 14 months.

“This is a federal government-funded project. For the fiscal year 2023-24, only Rs255 million were allocated. This year, we have demanded at least 60 percent of the funds to complete this project on time,” said an official.

When contacted, CDA spokesperson Kamran Aslam stated that the CDA is in the process of fresh bidding. “We are completing the documentation before going into bidding,” he said, adding that the CDA has also sought funds from the federal government for the fiscal year 2024-25 to kick-start this project.