LAHORE: The irrigation department’s willingness to provide 100 cusecs to the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) from the Bambawala-Ravi-Bedian (BRB) Canal’s Batapur point has finally paved the way for launching a mega water treatment project for clean drinking water.

The project was stalled since long as the authorities thought its cost could be reduced if Wasa was provided with water from the canal at Batapur rather than its point situated across the river Ravi, it is learnt.

“The irrigation department has now agreed to allow Wasa to get the canal water from the Batapur (GT Road) which will reduce the cost of laying of pipes for 10 to 12km. The department had earlier selected the canal’s point that comes after crossing of the river Ravi but the experts went against it and suggested Batapur point,” a senior Wasa official told Dawn on Tuesday.

The agency plans to set up a huge water treatment plant near the canal. The plant would make the canal water drinkable after treatment and provide it to the Lahorites through underground pipes. The objective of launching the project is to avoid fast depletion of the water table due to public and private sectors’ tube wells, domestic pumps etc. In an effort to resolve the issue, Wasa had decided to launch the project and complete it on a fast track.

“The irrigation department would provide Wasa with 100 cusecs of canal water daily that would first be made drinkable through treatment and then supplied to the citizens. Initially, the areas in north-east Lahore will get the supply of this treated water,” the official explained.

He said the provincial government would release funds for the project after its approval.

Talking about other mega projects, the official said Wasa had a plan to establish initially three wastewater treatment plants to treat wastewater (rain and sewer water) and discharge it into the Ravi.

“This scheme is also under the approval phase these days and we have already assured the Supreme Court to establish three wastewater plants at Mehmood Booti, Shadbagh and Shahdara. Three more such plants would be established at various city points at a later stage,” he said.

HOUSING SCHEMES: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) dismantled the entire infrastructure of seven illegally developed housing schemes. The schemes where the teams launched operation were Capital City, Gulshan-e-Mehrab, GC Garden, Gulshan-e-Haidar, Al-Wahab Garden, Satellite Town and Rachna Town, according to a spokesman.

ENCROACHMENTS: The City administration continued its anti-encroachment operation, demolishing illegal structures and sealing six shops for displaying goods outside their premises.

“The operation is going on indiscriminately without any pause and assistant commissioners are observing all roads and areas,” said a spokesman for the city admin.

He said the anti-quackery drive was also in full swing and health officials sealed City Medical Centre at Garhi Shahu being run by a quack, Azeem Khan. “A case was also registered against the quack,” he added.

APPROVED: The Provincial Development Working Party approved various development schemes, including Rehabilitation of 662 Dysfunctional Rural Water Supply Schemes (Revised), worth Rs8.195bn.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019