FAISALABAD, April 16: The Water and Sanitation Authority refused to pay operational costs of water purification plants set up by the government, demanding Rs26 million for the purpose, sources told Dawn on Monday.

They said the ministry of industries, production and special initiative installed four purification plants in the district, and it was decided that TMAs concerned would be responsible for operating them.

Now Wasa authorities were being pressured by the Punjab government to take over the plants and make them operational, they added. But, Wasa officials were not willing to take up the task owing to funds shortage, they said.

The costly plants were installed to filter the brackish water in the district to make it potable.

As many as 12 people had died last year in the D Block, Ghulam Mohammad Abad, after consuming polluted tap-water supplied by Wasa.

They said that at a meeting held at the DCO office and attended by the district and provincial government representatives, Wasa officials lamented the limited resources available with them. It was decided that Wasa would prepare an estimate of the cost required to run the plants.

According to Wasa estimate, Rs1.4 million are required for installation of pumping machinery and stand-by turbine, Rs276,600 for electricity transformer and electric cable, Rs83,902 for sewerage and drainage systems, Rs3.2 million for payment of staff salaries and other expenses, besides Rs3.4 million required for electricity and other charges

If Wasa cost estimate was approved, the authority would have to look after the plants for three years, the sources said.

Wasa Managing Director Mehboob Elahi told Dawn that a summary had been forwarded to the provincial government for approval.

He said it required additional budgets to make these plants operational.