LAHORE, Dec 21: Certain types of filtration plants being installed in the country at a cost of billions of rupees are turning out to be a source of pollution as there is no arrangement to dispose of their waste generated during the purification process.

The problem was noted by the authorities only after some plants installed in Faisalabad and Lahore went into operation.

Punjab is installing the plants under the federal government funded project at different places in the province.

According to official sources who requested anonymity, the province is already behind schedule though the central government is pushing for the early completion of the project. So far, the province has been able to commission 82 of the 115 plants installed.

Under the federal government instructions, each of the 144 tehsils in the province should have one water filtration plant operational by now.

At each plant (costing Rs2.6 million) there is no arrangement to safely dispose of the waste produced in liquid form. Some of the plants produce 10,000 gallons of waste everyday.

Sources said the problem came to the fore after the commissioning the plants in areas having brackish water.

“So far the authorities have failed to find a solution to the problem. Those running the plants are planning to dispose of the waste 200 feet below the ground level. They are just going to poison the subsoil water,” they said.

Sources further said in such a scenario filtration plants would not be able to purify water in areas already having high concentration of pollutants.

PLAN: Under the programme, one plant each is to be installed at 455 tehsils and 6,055 union councils in the country by the end of next year. The installation process at the union council level is yet to begin.