The Punjab government constructed Rawal Lake in 1962 after deciding that the country’s new capital required a water reservoir due to a water shortage in the state. CDA is taking care of the Rawal DAM nowadays and an exciting meeting took place between the authorities which we will discuss later in this blog.

The Rawal Dam’s water levels, spillways, and other related operational issues are now controlled by the Punjab Irrigation Department’s Small Dams Organisation (SDO). Rawal Lake is located in an isolated part of Malpur village in Banigala, and its main source of water is the Korang River, as well as a few small streams that come from the Murree hills around the Ghora Gali district. The planned life of small dams is 50 years, which was passed in 2012 for Rawal Lake. This does not, however, mean that the idea is no longer feasible.

Benefits to Islamabad:

The lake not only aids in the maintenance of Islamabad’s underground water table, but it is also a prominent picnic spot and contributes to the federal capital’s environmentally friendly atmosphere. Visitors to the lake’s beaches can also see a number of birds, such as cormorants, herons, kingfishers, and other species, which contribute to the lake’s beauty. Meanwhile, a small community of migratory ducks has found a safe and friendly habitat in the reeds.

Issue Between the Authorities:

The dispute between the Small Dam Organization (SDO) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) over the release of two million gallon per day (mgd) of water from Rawal Dam to Islamabad is set to be settled now that the civic agency has paid the SDO the outstanding Rs32 million.

The SDO had demanded that the CDA clear the Rs32 million dues before returning the dam’s two-million-gallon-per-day supply.

“The long-standing problem of Rawal Dam water restoration has been settled after the CDA paid the dues to the SDO a few days ago. “There is no longer any impediment to the release of water,” said Ali Nawaz Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CDA Affairs.

Mr Awan, who is also the convener of a subcommittee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources, told Dawn that the CDA could resolve water scarcity issues in the ‘I’ series sectors, especially I-10, after receiving the two mgd from Rawal Dam.

“Water scarcity is wreaking havoc on Sectors I-10 and G-10. In the coming summer, Capital Development Authority will be asked to reflect on these two sectors,” he added.

The SDO will supply two million gallons of raw water to the CDA, which will process it at its treatment plant before releasing it to the sectors, according to Capital Development Authority officials. Rawal Dam is the only source of water for Rawalpindi. Until the 1990s, the Capital Development Authority received two to four mgd every day, but the supply was later cut off.

Last year, however, CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed agreed to restore the supply. The matter was taken up by a subcommittee, which ordered all sides to address the problem because Islamabad was suffering a water shortage. Officials from both agencies recently paid a joint visit to the water reservoir, at which the CDA handed over a draught agreement to the SDO, according to CDA officials.

Agreement Between CDA and SDO:

“Recently, the SDO is putting the finishing touches on the deal. Hopefully, it will approve their draught in the coming days, and then officials from both organisations will sign the agreement before releasing water to CDA,” Said an officer who is part of the team negotiating with SDO for water release. We are hopeful that the issues will be resolved and we will be able to see something genuine in Islamabad to cater the needs of society.