RAWALPINDI: A two-member World Bank delegation on Monday suggested that Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Rawalpindi install meters on commercial and domestic water connections to stop water losses which have reached 30 per cent in the garrison city.

World Bank officials Bambos Charalambous and Masroor Ahmed visited Wasa offices and met with Wasa Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood.

The purpose of the delegation is to suggest ways to civic agencies in five big cities of Punjab - Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Gujranwala - to adopt measures to save water from being wasted and stolen.

World Bank has provided Wasa Rs220 million through the Punjab government under the Punjab City Governance Improvement Project (PCGIP) for 2014-15.

A loan amounting to $150 million has been given to be spent on water, sanitation and infrastructure development projects.

Rawalpindi’s share is $23.9 million and 50 per cent of the loan will be spent on the improvement of water supply and sewerage lines and system in the city while the rest of the money will be used to improve roads.

During the meeting, the delegation was told that Wasa has not installed meters on commercial and domestic connections and hence there is no mechanism for checking how much water is used daily.

In many parts of the city, water supply lines have become old and need replacement to prevent leakage and without meters there is no way of detecting excessive use.

The World Bank experts asked the agency to install meters for commercial consumers within two years and for domestic consumers within five years.

Wasa Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood told Dawn that the World Bank will chose one city from the five big cities of the province to be a model and will give a grant to develop a mechanism for preventing water wastage.

“Water supply lines were laid in many areas 40 to 50 years ago and most require replacement. There are also many illegal water connections in the city with people using water and not paying the bill,” he said.

He said the agency will soon initiate a project to install water meters under the World Bank’s Punjab City Governance Improvement Project.

“During the fiscal year, Wasa received Rs195 million from this project but spent it on clearing electricity bills and this year we plan to replace old and rusty water supply lines under the Rs220 million installment for this year,” he said.

Mr Mehmood said the agency also wanted to install water meters as it would help check excess billing of consumers and differentiate the cost for commercial and domestic use.

He added that there is a dire need to create awareness among people regarding judicious use of water, and installation of water meters will help sensitise people to water wastage as they will now be paying for it.

Published in Dawn, November 25th , 2014