Sewage project land repurposed for nursery

Express Tribune

05-03-2025

A piece of land acquired for a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with the Asian Development Bank's funding has been repurposed to establish a nursery for the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).
Originally, 5500 kanals of land was allocated for the STP, but 1,000 kanals have been used for the said nursery.
According to sources, the land has been provided for three years under a 25-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The agreement stipulates that PHA will receive 80 per cent of the nursery's revenue, while 20 per cent will be allocated to WASA.
Sources said that the approval for this repurposing came during the 64th meeting of the Rawalpindi Development Authority's (RDA) governing body, held on September 15, 2023.
At that time, Liaquat Ali Chatta was the commissioner of Rawalpindi, while Saif Anwar Jappa served as the director-general of RDA.
The land, initially acquired by WASA under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 for the STP project, had been designated for the sewage treatment plant funded by the Asian Development Bank. However, due to delays in starting the Nullah Leh project, which would channel the open sewage to the plant, the STP could not be installed.
Instead, 1000 kanals of the 5,500-kanal land was allotted to PHA for a large-scale nursery, under a 25-year agreement, with the first term set for three years.
The MoU states that if the nursery generates income, 20 per cent will go to WASA and 80 per cent to PHA.
The government of Punjab has provided Rs41.26 million to RDA to conduct a new feasibility study for the Nullah Leh project.
Meanwhile, WASA is facing challenges due to non-payment to landowners for the acquired land and judicial orders freezing its bank accounts due to additional price awards.
Despite the nursery's establishment, WASA sources report that it has yet to receive its share of the earnings. In response to inquiries, Ahmed Hassan Ranjha, Director-General of PHA, stated that the nursery's primary purpose remains the same, and once the sewage treatment plant is installed, the nursery will be shut down.
He added that while the nursery has not yet begun generating revenue, plants are being prepared for the Rawalpindi Ring Road project, and when income starts, WASA will receive its share.
The repurposing of the land for the nursery has sparked mixed reactions, with some community members questioning the delay in the STP project and the long-term use of valuable land.
While the nursery serves as a temporary solution, there is growing concern over the potential environmental impact and future development of the area once the sewage treatment plant is finally installed.
Local authorities are under pressure to balance economic development with environmental sustainability, as the region awaits progress on the long-delayed Nullah Leh project.