Wasa asks Islamabad commissioner to ban fishing in Rawal Lake

Rawalpindi: Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has requested chief commissioner, Islamabad, to impose a ban on commercial fishing in Rawal Lake.

Wasa through a letter number MD WASA/018/136 has requested chief commissioner, Islamabad that Rawal Lake is a drinking water source for Rawalpindi city and serving army through Military Engineering Services (MES). Wasa is purchasing raw water from Small Dam Organisation (SDO), Punjab Irrigation Department and after treatment supplying it to the consumers as per WHO guidelines.

Due to rainfall started on July 13, 2017 after a long dry spell, bulk of solid waste and other contaminants accumulated in the catchment areas entered into the lake and lot of fish died on July 15, 2017 due to abrupt change in the lake environment (increase in temperature & reduction in DO level).

WASA also informed that same incident had occurred in June 2004 and ban on commercial fishing was imposed by the “Rawal Lake Catchment Management Committee” headed by secretary Ministry of Interior. During its meeting dated on August 4, 2004, no auctions of fishery rights of Rawal Dam were awarded by Fisheries Department, ICT till 2015.

However, the ban was lifted by ICT administration in 2015 beside clear reservations of Wasa and Small Dams Organisation. It is therefore requested to cancel the fishing contract to avoid such kind of incidents in future as this lake is meant for drinking purposes only.

Wasa Managing Director Raja Shaukat told ‘The News’ that he has sent this letter to chief commissioner, Islamabad requested to impose ban on commercial fishing at Rawal Lake.  It is worth mentioning here that water supply from the Rawal Dam was suspended after a large number of dead fish were spotted in the lake, sparking fears that the waters had been poisoned or contaminated.