Lahore: The Ravi River, which flows through India and Pakistan, is crucial to the region but has faced serious challenges in recent decades. Since the construction of the Thein Dam in India, the river’s water flow has significantly diminished, nearly drying up during the winter months. Compounding the issue, untreated sewage from urban areas, specifically from Lahore is being is discharged directly into the Ravi, leading to severe pollution, particularly around Lahore.
This contamination not only affects the river’s water quality but also threatens the groundwater that Lahore relies on for drinking water. To tackle these problems and prepare Lahore for the future, the Punjab government has launched the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project (RUDA). This initiative aims to transform Lahore into the largest riverfront city in the world. Furthermore, the RUDA is actively transforming Lahore’s landscape by dedicating over 11,000 acres to forests and parks.
Their flagship projects include planting millions of trees across nine forests, most notably the 3,071-acre Rakh Jhoke Forest, and converting the former Mehmood Booti landfill into an urban smart forest. The project focuses on developing a 46-kilometer stretch of land along the Ravi river between Lahore and Shiekhupura, with the goal of improving the environment and enhancing the quality of life for local residents.
The Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) is currently executing a 1 km-wide channelization and flood-protection plan along both sides of the River Ravi. This includes constructing 30-foot-high, 46 km-long embankments to make the river a perennial freshwater body. While the overall Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project spans 3 phases, the construction of these embankments is ongoing. The development will cover up to 102,000 acres along the river and will feature 46 kilometers of embankments on both banks.
RUDA’s mission is to transform the River Ravi into a perennial freshwater resource, coupled with high-quality urban waterfront development. This section introduces the overarching goal of the project, emphasizing the river’s importance for recreation, irrigation, and economic activities. Talking to reporter Phase-1 project engineer Rao Intazar Hussain said that around 10 kilometer embankment work has been completed in all three phases, while work is being carried on swiftly.
He said Urban Development Authority (RUDA) has announced plans to construct 46 kilometers of embankments on both sides of the River Ravi within the next three years. Rao Intizar Ali said that earlier, embankments built over a 10-kilometer stretch had protected several villages in Sapphire Bay from flood waters He added that following the recent floods, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed RUDA to accelerate the construction work. ‘We have decided to complete 30-foot elevated embankments on both sides of the 46-kilometer stretch within three years.
Furthermore, RUDA is heavily focused on greening the Ravi River basin and combating Lahore’s severe pollution. Rai Bilal, Phase-3 site engineer said that the work on both embankments of the ongoing project has taken a significant step towards environmental conservation by organizing a plantation drive at Rakh Jhokk forest. In alignment with the directives of the Chief Minister to promote environmental sustainability, RUDA many times has commemorated by reiterating its dedication to combating pollution and advocating for ecological equilibrium.
Through initiatives such as the plantation drive at Rakh Jhokk forest, RUDA actively contributes to the broader objective of environmental preservation. So for, the plantation has been carried out on 80 acres featuring 36,000 new plants.
Additionally, six new tube-wells have been installed at the fresh site of Rakh Jhokk, which already covers an area exceeding 3,000 acres, he added. RUDA oversees nine forests spanning 5,983 acres in total. To bolster tree growth, the authority has set up multiple nurseries and is collaborating with local communities to advocate for forest conservation.
He said that around 40 percent of the total project area (over 100,000 acres) will be developed with forests, agriculture etc. It means we would have half of the total land for other purposes including residential, commercial or medical