RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has requested a grant of Rs. 110 million from the Punjab government to complete water supply projects in cantonment areas before the summer season starts.
As per the details, the government had allocated Rs. 230 million for the water supply network and construction of three underground tanks and filtration plants, but the RCB has only received Rs. 120 million.
The RCB officials said the agency had prepared the schemes for densely populated areas, including the construction of two underground water tanks on Misrial Road and Lane No. 5 on Peshawar Road, along with a water supply network and two filtration plants.
However, the remaining areas require improvements in their water supply, and the RCB is waiting for the release of the remaining funds.
RCB has requested the provincial government to release the funds to complete the schemes, saying that there is a need to construct more underground and overhead water tanks to provide water to residents from Khanpur Dam and tubewells.
Furthermore, the RCB has also requested the federal government to increase the quota of water from the dam.
In most areas of the Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments, the underground water level has decreased, leading to a severe water shortage in summer, with people mostly relying on water from private tankers.
To address the issue, private water tanker operators have installed tubewells near Soan River and adjoining areas, charging consumers Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,500 per tanker.
However, they have increased the rates after the recent surge in petroleum prices.
