RCB approves proposals for improvement of sewerage, sanitation

Rawalpindi
The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) in a meeting chaired by its president Brigadier Syed Hassan Raza approved proposals related to improvement of basic facilities, including those relating to sewerage and sanitation.
In a briefing to the print and electronic media, RCB official spokesman Qaisar Mahmood said that the meeting was attended by RCB Chief Executive Officer Dr. Saima Shah, all concerned officials of the civic body besides elected members.
The board meeting was convened to discuss the 80-point agenda and after discussion the president of the cantonment board approved several schemes which would be implemented in near future.
The board formed an assessment committee to deal with the matters of taxes and building plans. The creation of a post of administrator at the Cantonment General Hospital was approved and several commercial and residential building plans were okayed. The board decided to clear the dues against the Khanpur Dam water supply project.
The board, in its meeting, also decided to construct a consultants block at the Cantonment General Hospital for which allocation of funds would be made.
The issue of entry of journalists to cover the board meetings was also discussed in detail. It was decided that the related reporters of different papers and TV channels would have to submit required documents, which include their CNICs and other identification papers, with the official spokesman for the RCB which would be forwarded to the 10 Corps Headquarters and ISPR for reviewing. After confirmation of the identity of the beat reporters, the management would decide the matter regarding their entry for coverage purposes.
Replying to a question, Qaisar Mahmood said that with the efforts of Dr. Saima Shah the effects of improvement of sanitation condition are visible in the wards falling in the jurisdiction of RCB. He said that the CEO herself pays surprise visits to different localities to assess the condition of roads, condition of sewerage, drainage and sanitation system and work being carried out on their improvement. Four sites are under consideration for selecting the garbage dumping ground. The CEO in order to give approval would first pay a visit in couple of days to all four sites before deciding which to select. The garbage dumping site would be only 15 to 20 kilometres from Rawalpindi, Qaisar Mahmood said.
The significant aspect is that the board in its meeting has also decided to waive off taxes on poor people. However, before waiving off taxes, the civic body would conduct an inquiry into their cases before taking any decision, the spokesman said.