Islamabad: Despite investigations into the Punjab government’s small dam in Dhoke Sandaymar, the D-17 department, the Capital Development Agency (CDA), has so far failed to prevent contamination of dam water, which has effectively become a mix of unregulated housing schemes nearby.
Recently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a task force to protect small dams near the federal capital from pollution.
However, the protection of the Sandama Dam by the residents of Dhoke Sandaymar has not been relieved.
“The dam turned into sludge, surrounded by green layers and smelly smells. This made life miserable in the vicinity.”
Despite the PM’s working group, the D-17 department’s reservoir has become sludge, residents and the location risk
A Punjab government air survey conducted several years ago showed a large amount of drainage pipes from Tarnol, five miles away, and seven major housing societies flowed into the water of the dam.
“There are a lot of fish in the dam and private contractors are auctioned every two years and they catch and sell fish in the market. However, there are no fish in the dam because of the severe contamination of the water.”
Located in the D-17 area, about four kilometers from Sangjani, the dam was built by the Punjab government in the mid-190s and was mainly for water supply for irrigation. It also supports fish farming.
It is understood that not only the Sandama Dam, but also the other dams within the jurisdiction of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, including the Rawalpindi Dam, have been contaminated due to the adverse effects of people, animals and plants, and the mixture of unfavorable people, animals and plants in the two cities.
The Punjab Small Dam Organization (SDO) wrote to the CDA chair after reports of contamination in the Dhoke Sandaymar dam complaining about the failure of the civic agency to protect the reservoir.
The SDO Circle-I Islamabad Project Director highlighted this issue in a letter to the CDA leader.
“The direct benefits of Shell, such as irrigation and fish production, also help replenish underground aquifers in the area,” the letter reads.
The dam’s catchment area extends to Tanor, somewhere in between.
“It has been observed that seven untreated and wastewater from these settlements are discharged into natural drains,” the letter said. “This unacceptable water is contaminating the lake, making it unsuitable for irrigation for any aquaculture children.”
The letter further identified Tanor, the town of Musa, the colony of Ikra, Sefia, the village of Ped Parian, Lati Kashi, Lati Kashi, the colony of Itfair, Mohara Farouk-Isham (Sarai Kharbooza), Cabinet Department Staff Cooperation Housing Society (E-17) and Roshan), both of Jon Jons and contributors to the contributors.
The project director requires strict action in accordance with the charter and environmental regulations to prevent contaminated water from these settlements.
“A direct and effective action will not only preserve the natural beauty of the lake, but will also safeguard the well-being of all those who depend on it.”
The Director-General of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency also raised the matter.
On the other hand, the CDA said that, in accordance with the instructions of the Prime Minister’s Task Force, the authorities conducted a preliminary investigation into the area around the Sandama Dam. The contamination is determined and mapped by satellite images.
It added that as the vicinity of the Sandaymar dam includes planned and unplanned settlements, various technical and logistical options are being explored for effective collection and processing of RAW SENWER, taking into account the limitations and environmental sensitivity of the site.
To develop a comprehensive and sustainable solution, the CDA said it has been evaluated with qualified consultants to evaluate viable interventions and design wastewater treatment infrastructure.
Posted at Dawn on September 22, 2025
