LAHORE, May 24: Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi sanctioned Rs240 million for modernization of the City District Government fire brigade, revamping the Badami Bagh sewerage and drainage system and installing 10 new tubewells in the city.

District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood disclosed this while addressing a hurriedly convened press conference along with provincial Tourism Minister Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal and Information Technology Minister Abdul Aleem Khan here on Monday.

He said the chief minister had sanctioned the funds after his briefing on the projects earlier in the morning. He thanked the ministers for helping him in getting the projects approved from the chief minister.

The chief minister, he said, had sanctioned Rs140 million for modernization of the CDG fire brigade by procurement of new vehicles equipped with ladders to fight fire in high-rise buildings and equipment and recruitment and training of firemen.

The maximum age limit for firemen had been fixed at 45 but most of those in service were above 50 years of age because new ones could not be employed on account of ban on recruitments, he said. The chief minister had allowed the recruitment of new firemen as well.

He said the CDG had amended the building bylaws making fire fighting arrangements compulsory in all commercial buildings. All the six town municipal administrations had been directed to complete the survey of all the buildings having three or more storeys and ensure that the owners make fire fighting arrangements there within three months.

The chief minister had sanctioned Rs100 million for revamping the 40 year-old sewerage and drainage system from Badami Bagh, Karim Park, Ravi Road, Fruit and Vegetable Markets to Outfall Road.

All the drains, he said, would be desilted and six-inch to 10-inch diameter sewer lines would be replaced by 24-inch to 48-inch diameter lines. Ten new tubewells would be installed in maximum water shortage areas.

The District Nazim said the chief minister would announce the launching of Rs20 billion Lahore Ring Road project shortly. He said the chief minister had also approved the construction of the Mian Mir Hospital.

The CDG would build the hospital on 24 kanals of land adjacent to the shrine of Hazrat Mian Mir in Mustafaabad. The Auqaf Department would provide the land to the CDG for this purpose.

Mian Mahmood said that three companies had expressed interest in the Light Rail Transit Project. The previous contract had been cancelled due to failure of the company to honour its commitment, he added.