RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) will carry out only five development schemes worth Rs1.6 billion in the fiscal year 2024-25.

The Punjab government has allocated Rs1.6 billion for the RDA, which will carry out two projects – Rawalpindi Ring Road and Leh Nullah flood channel – whereas for Wasa, an amount of Rs70 million has been allocated for installation of 10 tubewells near Karnal Sher Khan Road, formerly I.J. Principal Road, and sewerage systems in five union councils.

The PHA will work on the rehabilitation of a public park on Adiala Road at a cost of Rs20 million.

During the last five years, the RDA had been working on preparing projects and monitoring housing schemes only.

Ring Road, Leh flood channel main schemes to be carried out

However, last year, the Punjab government launched the Rawalpindi Ring Road (R3) project and made the RDA its executing agency.

The development authority has done nothing in any part of the city except constructing Asghar Mall Road.

“In the next fiscal year, which starts from July 1, the RDA will execute Rawalpindi Ring Road project and conduct the feasibility study of the flood channel in Leh Nullah,” said a senior official of the civic body while talking to Dawn.

“The RDA has been limited to conducting feasibility studies and monitoring housing schemes only in the district.

But, it has still failed to control the mushroom growth of illegal housing societies,” he said.

The official said the RDA was the executing agency of the R3 project while it was being managed by the Project Management Unit under the Rawalpindi commissioner who is the project director.

He said the RDA sent more than six development schemes for approval but the Punjab government gave its consent to the feasibility studies of Leh Nullah flood channel and R3 Phase-II only.

“We sent six uplift schemes related to water shortage and sewerage system but only two were included in the annual development programme,” a senior Wasa official said.

According to the Punjab Development Programme, the provincial government allocated Rs20 million for the fiscal year 2024-25 for land acquisition, property compensation and shifting of utility services for R3 project.

The total amount for this head was Rs6.724 billion and so far, Rs6.266 billion had been spent. Similarly Rs20 million had been allocated for fiscal year 2024-25 while Rs219 million will be released in the next fiscal year 2025-26.

For construction work of R3 project from Banth to Thalian, the total cost is Rs26.96 billion whereas Rs8.787 billion had been spent on it so far. An amount of Rs1 billion had been allocated for fiscal year 2024-25 whereas Rs8.59 billion will be spent in the fiscal year 2025-26.

For R3 Phase-II from Thalian to Sangjani feasibility study worth Rs52 million, the Punjab government had allocated Rs20 million for the fiscal year 2024-25 while Rs16 million will be released in the next fiscal year.

For the feasibility study of Leh Nullah flood channel worth Rs48 million, Rs20 million has been allocated for fiscal year 2024-25 while Rs16 million will be released in the next fiscal year.

As far as Wasa is concerned, the provincial government has allocated Rs20 million for the installation of 10 tubewells near Karnal Sher Khan Road for union councils 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The total cost of the project is Rs200 million and Rs90 million will be released in the fiscal year 2025-26.

The second project is the laying of sewerage systems in Dhoke Hassu, Fauji Colony, Safdarabad, Khayaban-i-Sir Syed and Pirwadhai worth Rs395 million. An amount of Rs50 million has been allocated for the fiscal year 2024-25 while Rs172 million will be released in the fiscal year 2025-26.

The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) will work on only one project worth Rs450 million in the fiscal year 2024-25.

The provincial government has allocated Rs20 million for the rehabilitation and upgradation of a public park on Adiala Road while the remaining amount will be released in the next fiscal year.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2024