ISLAMABAD - Finally, the Cabinet Division has given the formal approval of worth Rs10 billion rehabilitation/upgradation of federal capitals water supply and wastewater network project, it is reliably learnt. In this regard, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been asked to carry out work on the phase-I of the project, it is further learnt. The much awaited decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Secretary Cabinet Division Abdur Rauf Chaudhry and was attended by the Secretary Planning and Development, Secretary Economic Affairs Division, Secretary Finance, Additional Secretary Cabinet besides Chairman CDA Imtiaz Inayat Elahi and DG Water Management Sanaullah Aman. Sources privy to the deliberations of the meeting said that according to the final decision taken by the meeting, the project, upgradation of existing water supply system and wastewater network, would start with the hiring of a foreign consultant company, which would carry out detailed study and feasibility of the existing water supply system and prepare a final viable scheme to achieve the objectives of the project. Sources added that phase-I of the project would commence within two to three months with a cost of Rs0.4 billion in an estimated time of one year. In the phase one of the project, assessment of the existing Islamabads underground water supply system would be made besides preparation of detailed methodology of the project. Within days the Authority would flout tender to hire the services of professional consultants of international repute to start work on phase-1 of the project, sources added. After completion of phase one of the project within estimated time of one year CDA would float tender for the award of the execution of the project and for that a time period of three-year had been set aside. It is pertinent to mention here that the existing water supply system besides having many engineering flaws was designed to supply water from the existing water reservoirs but now the dredging of water from Tarbela Dam for supply purposes would be carried out through gravity method and the existing dilapidated water supply lines could not bear the burden of that. According to the official, the international consultant firm in phase one of the project would carry out detailed study of the existing system and devise the design of new water supply system. The firm would also suggest the size of the pipelines laid under the project and at that stage the actual cost of the project would also be evolved but so far, roughly, it is around Rs10 billion, he said. It is worth-mentioning here that at least 50 to 70 percent of Islamabads total water supply is wasted due to leakage and engineering faults. In the recent past due to scarce rains, a water crisis like situation was created in the federal capital while the leakage, broken pipeline, illegal water connections, water theft and wastage on the consumer end had further aggravated the situation, which compelled the city managers to consider the much-neglected repair and replacement of water supply system.