Latest news with #NullahLeh
Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sewage project land repurposed for nursery
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.
Express Tribune
25-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Punjab okays feasibility study for revised Leh project
The Secretary of Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering department, Punjab has granted administrative approval for the feasibility study of the revised scope of the Nullah Leh project, which includes the sewerage trunk and flood channel. The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has been directed to issue advertisements for hiring expert companies to carry out the feasibility study. The Authority, designated as the executing agency for the Nullah Leh project, had previously been officially notified by the Punjab government through a formal letter about the project's new scope under the name "Sewerage Trunk and Flood Channel," which has already been approved by the Punjab cabinet. It is worth noting that, for the past 30 years, the provincial government has spent billions of rupees annually on cleaning the Nullah Leh and increasing its depth, only for the same practice to be repeated before the next monsoon season. Despite these efforts, the residents of Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas continue to suffer from severe flooding and environmental pollution caused by the open sewerage system, particularly during the monsoon season. Once the feasibility study is completed, the new project will consist of the sewerage trunk, flood channel, and a traffic route connecting the twin cities. The total estimated cost for the feasibility study and detailed design of the Nullah Leh Project is Rs41.260 million. As the project's executing agency, the RDA has initiated the process of soliciting proposals from consultants following administrative approval from the competent authority. The selected consultant will be required to submit the feasibility study report to the RDA within six months, after which the process of awarding the project contract will begin. Sources say Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has instructed that the project be given a more refined and efficient structure and that work should commence promptly. The project is expected to be completed in the shortest possible time to provide the residents of Rawalpindi relief from recurring flood disasters and hazardous environmental pollution, they add. Once the feasibility study is concluded, the project will not only address the ongoing flooding and pollution issues but also enhance the city's infrastructure by improving drainage systems and flood management.
