LAHORE: The pace of desilting of major city drains has been accelerated.

Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) sources said the field operation teams were asked to ensure cleaning and trouble-free flow of waste/sewage water in all major drains and their final disposal to the designated spots.

Wasa is to clean/desilt Lahore’s drains, including Cantt Drain, Maulana Shaukat Ali Road Drain, College Road Drain, Sattukatla Drain, Shahdara Drain, Upper Chhota Ravi Drain, Lower Chotta Ravi Drain, and Sukh Nehar Drain.

Besides, the agency makes nearly 3,000km long sewer lines desilt-free every year. However, desilting of the Hudiara Drain is carried out by the irrigation department and not Wasa. Until the 1980s, the drain was a storm water drain used for irrigation and draining wastewater into the Ravi. It originates in Indian Punjab and running along the border; it enters Pakistan and passes along the eastern suburbs of Raiwind before ending up in the Ravi. Now, the drain carries sewage and industrial waste.

Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa visited the Cantonment Drain and inspected the desilting work.

Accompanied by Wasa Managing Director Ghufran Ahmad, the commissioner oversaw Wasa workers engaged in desilting and cleaning of the drain in two shifts. The commissioner learned about accelerating the desilting work in Cantt and other drains. He said the work on the 18km long Cantonment drain was underway at various spots using excavators and other heavy equipment.

“You are required to take action against all those involved in throwing garbage in drains, thus choking and disturbing the waste water flows,” the commissioner said. He urged the Wasa management to also plant saplings along both sides of the drain in a bid to improve the environment.

LDA: Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director-General (DG) Tahir Farooq visited LDA One Window Cell and evaluated the performance of staff working in different sections.

He also addressed citizens’ issues and observed various stages of application processing during the first shift.

Regarding the processing of applications, the DG emphasised the need to expedite the processing of fully cleared files in the sifting process, ensuring the process within 24 to 48 hours.

“The benefits of sifting of the record should reach to the common citizens,” he said. Mr Farooq directed the chief town planner to present a comprehensive plan aimed at streamlining the approval process for building plans. During the inspection, he also reviewed the progress of applications received during the first shift.

He directed that challans for completely cleared properties in the sifting process should be issued within 24 hours. Additionally, the DG reviewed the process for the approval of building plans for commercial properties at E-Khidmat Counter.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2024