Installation of Sewage Treatment Plants takes another year: MCI.

ISLAMABAD -- The much-trumpeted plan of installing four Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in the federal capital may take another year as the authorities concerned are yet to acquire land for the facility.

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in its recent meeting had given green signal to materialize the project of establishing four treatment plants of Rs 3.51 billion in two phases (two in each phase), the official source in Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) told reporter.

'The process of installing two STPs will be taking more than eight months,' the official asserted.

The idea of setting up four STPs in the outskirts of Islamabad was floated by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to filter the water falling into the Korang River and Rawal Dam and already been stalled for the last ten years for one or another reason , exposing residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to serious health hazards.

The Planning Commission of Pakistan had asked MCI to complete the land acquisition, Operation and Maintenance process on priority to ensure timely release of funds for the project at earliest. they said and added that the corporation had already written to the CDA for allocating land for all of four STPs and the response was being awaited.

In this letter, the sources said, the MCI requested the CDA to provide technical and financial assistance to finish this much-needed facility on time.

The CDA was asked to evaluate the status of demarcated lands for the project and if the designated area was privately owned, it would facilitate MCI in purchasing such piece of land, they added.

To a query, the sources said the departments concerned had intensified their efforts to complete this long awaited initiative, adding that the Supreme Court was also pursing this matter and directed the authorites concerned to execute this project at earliest.

Sources, expressing their optimism said the project would see the day of light this time as the Punjab government, which was to share 36 per cent of its contribution in it, had also set to give its share in this...