With an estimated cost of Rs 3.36 billion, the federal government has embarked upon a mega sanitary sewerage system along with a treatment plant for the picturesque Gilgit City.

As per official documents available with Business Recorder, the project would be completed in three years. It will provide sewerage collection infrastructure/facilities to the residents of the Gilgit City who are facing numerous health and environmental issues due to the absence of an effective sewerage system.

Implementation arrangements would be ensured by the sponsoring agency - Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, whereas the Gilgit Development Authority (GDA) would be responsible for operation and maintenance of the project.

The government of Gilgit-Baltistan has approved two components of project namely - 'Construction of Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP)' and 'Construction of gravity main from eye hospital to STP' amounting to Rs 1.73 billion.

Due to financial constraints Government of Gilgit Baltistan has decided to focus only on the most problematic area of Gilgit city at this stage. The PC-l under consideration aims at the collection system of the problematic areas and is submitted for federal funding through PSDP.

Non availability of proper sewerage system in the city is creating hazardous health and environmental conditions resultantly adversely affecting the entire population of the city. Further, in absence of sewerage system, the waste water is continuously being disposed of in Gilgit and Hunza River without any treatment.

The project after completion will provide the sewerage system with minimum maintenance for the design life up to 2,035 to cater for the projected population of 475,403.

The main objectives of the project are to improve the sanitation of Gilgit City, to bring sewerage within permissible limits of NEQs before disposing into water bodies, to reduce adverse environmental impacts of sewage, to ensure protection of target population from all diseases in health sector to avoid contamination of natural water bodies and soil, avoid unnecessary expenditure incurred on the health of the residents due to disposal of untreated.